Best Time to Fly DCA to DTW: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Ronald Reagan Washington National → Detroit Metro Wayne County
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
Over the last 12 months, 76.2% of Washington (DCA) to Detroit (DTW) flights arrived on time (2,976 scheduled flights). That is 1.5 points below the national average of 77.6%.
Among 3 airlines, Republic Airways led with 81.1% on time and PSA Airlines was last with 68.2%.
Over 24 months, Saturday was the most reliable day (83% on time) and July the worst month (64%).
The cancellation rate was 3.7% (US average 1.8%).
DCA to DTW 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republic Airways | 81.1% | 72 min | 3.3% | 276 |
| Delta Air Lines | 79.6% | 84 min | 2.8% | 1,741 |
| PSA Airlines | 68.2% | 79 min | 5.3% | 953 |
| Envoy Air | Limited data | 2 | ||
| American Airlines | Limited data | 4 | ||
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly DCA to DTW
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 5,693 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6am–7am | 93.7% | 2.3% | 731 |
| 7am–8am | 85.8% | 3.6% | 521 |
| 8am–9am | 66.7% | 5.9% | 68 |
| 9am–10am | 87.5% | 1.8% | 613 |
| 10am–11am | 82.1% | 1.2% | 164 |
| 11am–12pm | 76.5% | 4.7% | 107 |
| 12pm–1pm | 82.9% | 1.3% | 751 |
| 1pm–2pm | 92.3% | 1.9% | 53 |
| 2pm–3pm | 62.5% | 4.4% | 340 |
| 3pm–4pm | 77.4% | 1.9% | 162 |
| 4pm–5pm | 70.8% | 6.7% | 104 |
| 5pm–6pm | 59.8% | 2.5% | 759 |
| 6pm–7pm | 74.5% | 0.0% | 47 |
| 7pm–8pm | 65.7% | 5.1% | 409 |
| 8pm–9pm | 67.0% | 5.2% | 478 |
| 9pm–10pm | 67.4% | 6.5% | 46 |
| 10pm–11pm | 61.7% | 10.9% | 340 |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on DCA to DTW
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) | 73.5% | -4.6 pts | 1.0% | 103 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 75.8% | -2.3 pts | 1.6% | 189 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 67.6% | -10.5 pts | 6.8% | 947 |
| All other days | 78.1% | — | 2.9% | 4,454 |
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).