Best Time to Fly DCA to ILM: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Ronald Reagan Washington National → Wilmington International
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
Over the last 12 months, 73.0% of Washington (DCA) to Wilmington (ILM) flights arrived on time (880 scheduled flights). That is 4.7 points below the national average of 77.6%.
Among 2 airlines, Republic Airways led with 81.8% on time and PSA Airlines was last with 72.2%.
Over 24 months, Saturday was the most reliable day (78% on time) and February the worst month (54%).
The cancellation rate was 5.8% (US average 1.8%).
DCA to ILM 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 | 81.8% | 61 min | 4.3% | 69 |
| PSA Airlines | 72.2% | 72 min | 6.0% | 807 |
| American Airlines | Limited data | 4 | ||
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly DCA to ILM
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 1,668 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6am–7am | Limited data | 1 | |
| 7am–8am | 89.9% | 2.2% | 91 |
| 8am–9am | 83.3% | 4.9% | 555 |
| 9am–10am | 73.7% | 1.7% | 58 |
| 10am–11am | Limited data | 1 | |
| 11am–12pm | 91.7% | 0.0% | 36 |
| 12pm–1pm | 70.6% | 2.9% | 70 |
| 1pm–2pm | 67.9% | 5.1% | 118 |
| 2pm–3pm | 71.3% | 6.5% | 123 |
| 3pm–4pm | 69.7% | 5.7% | 35 |
| 4pm–5pm | 57.5% | 8.8% | 80 |
| 5pm–6pm | 60.9% | 9.8% | 439 |
| 6pm–7pm | Limited data | 10 | |
| 7pm–8pm | Limited data | 3 | |
| 8pm–9pm | Limited data | 6 | |
| 9pm–10pm | 38.7% | 8.8% | 34 |
| 10pm–11pm | Limited data | 8 | |
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 ILM
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) | 60.0% | -14.4 pts | 0.0% | 31 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 75.9% | +1.5 pts | 0.0% | 54 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 66.7% | -7.8 pts | 10.0% | 340 |
| All other days | 74.4% | — | 5.5% | 1,243 |
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).