Best Time to Fly DTW to DCA: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Detroit Metro Wayne County → Ronald Reagan Washington National
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
Over the last 12 months, 68.7% of Detroit (DTW) to Washington (DCA) flights arrived on time (2,975 scheduled flights). That is 8.9 points below the national average of 77.6%.
Among 3 airlines, PSA Airlines led with 69.7% on time and Republic Airways was last with 63.7%.
Over 24 months, Saturday was the most reliable day (82% on time) and February the worst month (57%).
The cancellation rate was 3.9% (US average 1.8%).
DTW 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 | 69.7% | 115 min | 6.0% | 952 |
| Delta Air Lines | 69.1% | 59 min | 2.6% | 1,741 |
| Republic Airways | 63.7% | 69 min | 4.7% | 276 |
| Envoy Air | Limited data | 2 | ||
| American Airlines | Limited data | 4 | ||
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly DTW to DCA
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 5,693 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5am–6am | 76.8% | 7.9% | 89 |
| 6am–7am | 80.9% | 5.6% | 502 |
| 7am–8am | 82.4% | 2.3% | 736 |
| 8am–9am | Limited data | 20 | |
| 9am–10am | 82.2% | 3.6% | 471 |
| 10am–11am | 83.0% | 2.3% | 886 |
| 11am–12pm | 83.3% | 2.0% | 49 |
| 12pm–1pm | Limited data | 11 | |
| 1pm–2pm | 74.5% | 0.0% | 47 |
| 2pm–3pm | 51.4% | 2.6% | 537 |
| 3pm–4pm | 56.9% | 0.8% | 359 |
| 4pm–5pm | 75.0% | 0.0% | 32 |
| 5pm–6pm | 60.9% | 4.6% | 974 |
| 6pm–7pm | 63.4% | 2.1% | 96 |
| 7pm–8pm | 39.2% | 10.6% | 141 |
| 8pm–9pm | 83.3% | 3.6% | 56 |
| 9pm–10pm | 71.8% | 2.2% | 687 |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on DTW 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) | 62.4% | -10.6 pts | 1.9% | 103 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 71.5% | -1.4 pts | 1.6% | 189 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 64.4% | -8.6 pts | 6.2% | 947 |
| All other days | 73.0% | — | 2.7% | 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).