Best Time to Fly CLT to DCA: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Charlotte Douglas International → Ronald Reagan Washington National
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
Over the last 12 months, 67.6% of Charlotte (CLT) to Washington (DCA) flights arrived on time (2,679 scheduled flights). That is 10.0 points below the national average of 77.6%.
Among 2 airlines, PSA Airlines led with 73.0% on time and American Airlines was last with 67.0%.
Over 24 months, Saturday was the most reliable day (77% on time) and July the worst month (60%).
The cancellation rate was 2.4% (US average 1.8%).
CLT to DCA on-time performance by airline
Last 12 months. Airlines with fewer than 30 completed flights are marked “limited data”.
| Airline | On time | Avg delay when late | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA Airlines | 73.0% | 75 min | 0.0% | 270 |
| American Airlines | 67.0% | 67 min | 2.6% | 2,409 |
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly CLT to DCA
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 6,016 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5am–6am | Limited data | 1 | |
| 7am–8am | 71.7% | 1.3% | 373 |
| 8am–9am | 79.8% | 1.8% | 493 |
| 9am–10am | 83.1% | 1.5% | 716 |
| 10am–11am | Limited data | 13 | |
| 11am–12pm | 83.8% | 0.4% | 516 |
| 12pm–1pm | 60.6% | 3.0% | 233 |
| 1pm–2pm | 71.6% | 0.5% | 198 |
| 2pm–3pm | 53.2% | 1.9% | 462 |
| 3pm–4pm | 68.5% | 1.2% | 164 |
| 4pm–5pm | 63.8% | 2.4% | 507 |
| 5pm–6pm | 63.9% | 0.0% | 184 |
| 6pm–7pm | 60.1% | 3.8% | 504 |
| 7pm–8pm | 53.2% | 1.7% | 240 |
| 8pm–9pm | 60.8% | 4.3% | 652 |
| 9pm–10pm | 78.4% | 1.1% | 89 |
| 10pm–11pm | 70.1% | 4.6% | 671 |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on CLT to DCA
On-time arrivals during holiday periods compared with all other days, last 24 months.
| Period | On time | vs other days | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving week (Tue before to Mon after) | 66.3% | -4.2 pts | 0.0% | 101 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 71.9% | +1.3 pts | 0.4% | 225 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 61.6% | -9.0 pts | 4.6% | 1,002 |
| All other days | 70.6% | — | 2.0% | 4,688 |
Monthly on-time trend
On-time arrival % each month, with the 12-month US average for reference.
What causes delays on this route
Share of reported delay minutes, last 12 months (BTS cause categories).