Minneapolis (MSP) to Washington (DCA): On-Time Performance
Data through May 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 65%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 74%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 19 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 2.7%
- Flights/day
- 7.0
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 30m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 931 mi
Best airline from MSP to DCA
4 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Linesmost reliable | 77% | 15 min | 1.6% | 3,419 |
| Republic Airways | 77% | 16 min | 3.8% | 372 |
| PSA Airlines | 68% | 33 min | 5.8% | 964 |
| Envoy Air | 67% | 22 min | 4.2% | 144 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from MSP to DCA
Aim for departures around 10 a.m. (85% on-time); avoid 5 p.m. departures (59%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 75% | 18 min |
| Tuesday | 78% | 17 min |
| Wednesday | 73% | 22 min |
| Thursday | 69% | 22 min |
| Friday | 73% | 19 min |
| Saturdaybest | 81% | 13 min |
| Sunday | 75% | 20 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft28%
- Airline operations35%
- National airspace system30%
- Weather7%
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 2024-06 and 2026-05. The average arrival delay across completed flights was 19 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from MSP to DCA?
- Delta Air Lines has the best on-time record on this route at 77%, based on 3,419 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 10 a.m. have the best record (85% on-time), while departures around 5 p.m. have the worst (59%). 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?
- 2.7% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05, 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
Based on 4,948 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.