Minneapolis (MSP) to Washington (DCA): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
When you fly MSP to DCA matters as much as anything else about the booking: the route swung from 91% on-time in October 2024 to just 57% in February 2025. Across the full period the route averages 74% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (83% vs 64%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 74%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 21 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 2.9%
- Flights/day
- 7.1
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 30m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 931 mi
Best airline from MSP to DCA
4 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republic Airwaysmost reliable | 77% | 16 min | 3.8% | 372 |
| Delta Air Lines | 76% | 15 min | 1.7% | 3,568 |
| PSA Airlines | 67% | 40 min | 6.6% | 1,046 |
| Envoy Air | 67% | 22 min | 4.2% | 165 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from MSP to DCA
Aim for departures around 7 a.m. (85% on-time); avoid 5 p.m. departures (58%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 76% | 21 min |
| Tuesday | 78% | 19 min |
| Wednesday | 73% | 22 min |
| Thursday | 69% | 23 min |
| Friday | 72% | 22 min |
| Saturdaybest | 81% | 12 min |
| Sunday | 73% | 23 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft29%
- Airline operations32%
- National airspace system30%
- Weather9%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from MSP to DCA delayed?
- 26% of MSP–DCA flights arrived 15 or more minutes late (the US DOT definition of a delay) between 2024-07 and 2026-07. The average arrival delay across completed flights was 21 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from MSP to DCA?
- Republic Airways has the best on-time record on this route at 77%, based on 372 flights. 4 airlines flew MSP–DCA frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from MSP to DCA?
- Departures around 7 a.m. have the best record (85% on-time), while departures around 5 p.m. have the worst (58%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from MSP to DCA?
- The scheduled MSP–DCA flight time averages 2h 30m over 931 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 26% of the time.
- How often are MSP to DCA flights cancelled?
- 2.9% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-07 and 2026-07, slightly above the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from MSP to DCA?
- February 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 57% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 91%. If your dates are flexible, that 34-point gap is worth planning around.
Explore related pages
- Return route: DCA to MSP on-time stats
- Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field departure performance
- Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport airport reliability
- Delta Air Lines on-time record
- PSA Airlines on-time record
- Republic Airways on-time record
- Envoy Air on-time record
More routes from MSP
Other ways to fly to Washington (DCA)
Related guides
Based on 5,200 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.