Best Time to Fly DCA to MSP: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Ronald Reagan Washington National → Minneapolis-St Paul International
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
2,600 flights were scheduled from Washington (DCA) to Minneapolis (MSP) in the last 12 months, and 75.8% of those that flew arrived on time, 1.9 points below the US average of 77.6%.
Among 5 airlines, Delta Air Lines led with 78.7% on time and PSA Airlines was last with 65.1%.
Over 24 months, Saturday was the most reliable day (83% on time) and July the worst month (64%).
The cancellation rate was 2.9% (US average 1.8%).
DCA to MSP 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Lines | 78.7% | 91 min | 1.8% | 1,698 |
| Republic Airways | 76.8% | 71 min | 4.6% | 195 |
| Envoy Air | 76.6% | 55 min | 2.5% | 162 |
| American Airlines | 72.5% | 62 min | 2.4% | 41 |
| PSA Airlines | 65.1% | 92 min | 6.2% | 504 |
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly DCA to MSP
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 4,989 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6am–7am | 90.8% | 1.9% | 718 |
| 7am–8am | 82.6% | 2.5% | 442 |
| 8am–9am | 84.8% | 0.9% | 227 |
| 9am–10am | 82.5% | 4.8% | 84 |
| 10am–11am | 80.3% | 1.4% | 294 |
| 11am–12pm | 84.8% | 0.5% | 205 |
| 12pm–1pm | 79.3% | 1.4% | 515 |
| 1pm–2pm | 72.4% | 2.2% | 232 |
| 2pm–3pm | 77.5% | 0.8% | 402 |
| 3pm–4pm | 71.0% | 3.4% | 758 |
| 4pm–5pm | Limited data | 1 | |
| 5pm–6pm | Limited data | 3 | |
| 6pm–7pm | 72.5% | 1.6% | 613 |
| 7pm–8pm | 67.0% | 5.0% | 182 |
| 8pm–9pm | 64.0% | 10.4% | 125 |
| 9pm–10pm | Limited data | 27 | |
| 10pm–11pm | 66.7% | 10.6% | 161 |
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 MSP
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) | 86.4% | +6.0 pts | 1.1% | 89 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 77.9% | -2.5 pts | 1.1% | 183 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 67.3% | -13.1 pts | 4.3% | 859 |
| All other days | 80.4% | — | 2.3% | 3,858 |
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).