Portland (PWM) to Washington (DCA): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Portland (PWM) to Washington (DCA) has an unusually high scrub rate — 3.9% of scheduled departures never left the gate, a cancellation rate several times the national figure. When flights do go, 75% land on time, below the national average of 78%. Republic Airways has been the safer pick, arriving on time 83% of the time.
- On-time
- 75%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 28 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 3.9%
- Flights/day
- 3.2
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 54m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 482 mi
Best airline from PWM to DCA
4 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republic Airwaysmost reliable | 83% | 11 min | 2.7% | 332 |
| American Airlines | 75% | 28 min | 1.9% | 1,135 |
| PSA Airlines | 72% | 34 min | 6.7% | 1,044 |
| Envoy Air | 69% | 19 min | 0.0% | 62 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from PWM to DCA
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (88% on-time); avoid 4 p.m. departures (42%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 71% | 43 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 79% | 26 min |
| Wednesday | 77% | 19 min |
| Thursday | 75% | 27 min |
| Friday | 73% | 33 min |
| Saturday | 78% | 27 min |
| Sunday | 72% | 22 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft43%
- Airline operations30%
- National airspace system17%
- Weather10%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from PWM to DCA delayed?
- 25% of PWM–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 28 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from PWM to DCA?
- Republic Airways has the best on-time record on this route at 83%, based on 332 flights. 4 airlines flew PWM–DCA frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from PWM to DCA?
- Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (88% on-time), while departures around 4 p.m. have the worst (42%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from PWM to DCA?
- The scheduled PWM–DCA flight time averages 1h 54m over 482 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 25% of the time.
- How often are PWM to DCA flights cancelled?
- 3.9% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-07 and 2026-07 — several times the typical US rate, so consider earlier departures or backup options.
- What is the worst month to fly from PWM to DCA?
- February 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 53% of arrivals on time. The best was September 2024 at 90%. If your dates are flexible, that 38-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 2,573 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.