Best Time to Fly DCA to MSN: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Ronald Reagan Washington National → Dane County Regional-Truax Field
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
Over the last 12 months, 70.6% of Washington (DCA) to Madison (MSN) flights arrived on time (1,213 scheduled flights). That is 7.0 points below the national average of 77.6%.
Republic Airways was the most punctual of the 2 airlines on the route at 77.7%, while PSA Airlines trailed at 67.6%.
October has been the best month (86% on time) and Friday the weakest day of the week (69%).
5.0% of flights were cancelled, versus 1.8% nationally.
DCA to MSN 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 | 77.7% | 71 min | 2.2% | 357 |
| PSA Airlines | 67.6% | 89 min | 6.1% | 832 |
| Envoy Air | Limited data | 19 | ||
| American Airlines | Limited data | 5 | ||
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly DCA to MSN
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 2,205 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8am–9am | 76.7% | 6.2% | 129 |
| 9am–10am | 67.3% | 0.0% | 49 |
| 10am–11am | 91.7% | 2.7% | 37 |
| 11am–12pm | 77.6% | 1.3% | 380 |
| 12pm–1pm | Limited data | 7 | |
| 1pm–2pm | 69.6% | 3.5% | 174 |
| 2pm–3pm | 64.7% | 5.0% | 161 |
| 3pm–4pm | 81.3% | 1.8% | 611 |
| 4pm–5pm | Limited data | 6 | |
| 5pm–6pm | Limited data | 4 | |
| 6pm–7pm | Limited data | 10 | |
| 7pm–8pm | 57.2% | 3.1% | 292 |
| 8pm–9pm | 64.9% | 8.6% | 244 |
| 9pm–10pm | 59.5% | 13.9% | 43 |
| 10pm–11pm | 39.5% | 24.1% | 58 |
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 MSN
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) | 64.9% | -7.7 pts | 2.6% | 38 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 73.0% | +0.4 pts | 0.0% | 37 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 68.6% | -3.9 pts | 8.8% | 388 |
| All other days | 72.6% | — | 3.2% | 1,742 |
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).