Route on-time record
DAL to DCA: most on-time flights and the best time to fly
Dallas (Dallas Love Field) to Washington (Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport). 1,735 nonstop flights in Jun 2025 to May 2026, 68% arrived within 15 minutes and 1.6% were cancelled. The most reliable flight number was Southwest 1506 at 6:15 AM.
Flying on a specific date? We’ll adjust for the month, the weekday and the forecast.
DAL → DCA
Dallas to Washington: 1,735 nonstop flights a year
On time (12 months)
68%
Cancelled
1.6%
avg delay 22 min
Best time to leave
Before 9 AM
91% on time vs 50% 6 to 9 PM
Most reliable airline
Southwest
67% chance on time
Lowest nonstop fare seen in the next two months: $52 (Southwest 4861 on 2026-11-11). Fares open on our travel partner (Aviasales). Pick the flight number you chose here.
Most reliable nonstop flights
Ranked by the chance the flight operates and arrives within 15 minutes of schedule, from Jun 2025 to May 2026 records.
#1 · Southwest 1506
6:15 AM → 10:00 AM2h 45m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
90%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 96%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 2 min
- Arrived on time 96% of the time (54 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 54 scheduled flights.
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 91% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 50%).
- Departs outside DAL's trouble window (noon to 6 PM, when 68% of its 40 ground stops and delay programs started).
Limited track record · 54 flights
Find Southwest 1506 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#2 · Southwest 2780
10:20 AM → 2:10 PM2h 50m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-29.
80%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 84%
- Cancelled
- 2.6%
- Avg arrival delay
- 5 min
- Arrived on time 84% of the time (38 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs outside DAL's trouble window (noon to 6 PM, when 68% of its 40 ground stops and delay programs started).
- Lands inside DCA's trouble window: 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
Limited track record · 38 flights
Find Southwest 2780 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#3 · Southwest 8
10:10 AM → 2:00 PM2h 50m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-30.
78%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 88%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 5 min
- Arrived on time 88% of the time (8 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs outside DAL's trouble window (noon to 6 PM, when 68% of its 40 ground stops and delay programs started).
- Lands inside DCA's trouble window: 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
Limited track record · 8 flights
Find Southwest 8 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#4 · Southwest 1177
4:55 PM → 8:45 PM2h 50m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-30.
64%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 88%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 7 min
- Arrived on time 88% of the time (8 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs inside DAL's trouble window: 68% of its 40 ground stops and delay programs started between noon and 6 PM.
Limited track record · 8 flights
Find Southwest 1177 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#5 · Southwest 1045
2:10 PM → 6:00 PM2h 50m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
59%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 51%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 36 min
- Arrived on time 51% of the time (47 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 47 scheduled flights.
- Departs inside DAL's trouble window: 68% of its 40 ground stops and delay programs started between noon and 6 PM.
- Lands inside DCA's trouble window: 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
Limited track record · 47 flights
Find Southwest 1045 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#6 · Southwest 3386
7:35 PM → 11:25 PM2h 50m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-27.
56%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 56%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 51 min
- Arrived on time 56% of the time (16 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's least on-time window (6 to 9 PM: 50% on time; Before 9 AM: 91%).
- Departs outside DAL's trouble window (noon to 6 PM, when 68% of its 40 ground stops and delay programs started).
- 62% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.
Limited track record · 16 flights
Find Southwest 3386 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#7 · Southwest 1509
6:55 PM → 10:45 PM2h 50m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-29.
54%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 39%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 46 min
- Arrived on time 39% of the time (23 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's least on-time window (6 to 9 PM: 50% on time; Before 9 AM: 91%).
- Departs outside DAL's trouble window (noon to 6 PM, when 68% of its 40 ground stops and delay programs started).
- 75% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.
Limited track record · 23 flights
Find Southwest 1509 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#8 · Southwest 3483
5:05 PM → 8:55 PM2h 50m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
43%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 35%
- Cancelled
- 2.1%
- Avg arrival delay
- 43 min
- Arrived on time 35% of the time (46 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs inside DAL's trouble window: 68% of its 40 ground stops and delay programs started between noon and 6 PM.
Limited track record · 46 flights
Find Southwest 3483 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
Airlines on this route
Season-adjusted chance of operating and arriving on time.
- Southwest Airlines67%
1,735 flights · 68% on time as flown · 1.6% cancel
On time by departure time
All airlines, scheduled local departure, Jun 2025 to May 2026.
- Before 9 AM91%
365 flights · avg delay 5 min
- 9 AM to noon81%
364 flights · avg delay 11 min
- Noon to 3 PM63%
332 flights · avg delay 24 min
- 3 to 6 PM51%
363 flights · avg delay 36 min
- 6 to 9 PM50%
311 flights · avg delay 34 min
Best day: Saturday (81%). Worst: Friday (67%).
Smarter routing
Nearby airports that run more on time
DFW → IAD 77% chance on time
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport to Washington Dulles International Airport · 1,919 flights a year · 35 mi from your airports · yours: 67%
DAL → BWI 73% chance on time
Dallas Love Field to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport · 1,827 flights a year · 30 mi from your airports · yours: 67%
DFW → DCA 70% chance on time
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport · 3,309 flights a year · 12 mi from your airports · yours: 67%
On time by month
All airlines, Jun 2023 to May 2026. Several years per month, so one stormy season doesn't define a month. Travel-month estimates use this seasonal pattern.
What delays this route
- Late-arriving aircraft40%
- Airline (crew, maintenance, boarding)28%
- Air traffic control and airport volume26%
- Severe weather5%
- Security1%
Share of delay minutes by the cause airlines report to the US DOT.
Historical odds, not a guarantee. Built from the US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics on-time reports (Jun 2025 to May 2026), FAA ground stop and delay program advisories, and 20 years of airport weather observations. Covers US airlines that report to the DOT; schedules are flights operated recently, so confirm times when you book. ATIS Alerts is not affiliated with any airline. Fares are what Aviasales travelers saw in recent searches (USD, one way, 1 adult), not live quotes; the partner site shows the current price. Fare links go to our travel partner and may earn us a commission at no cost to you. Affiliate disclosure
DAL to DCA questions
- What time of day is best to fly DAL to DCA?
- Before 9 AM: 91% of flights arrived on time, against 50% for departures 6 to 9 PM. Later flights inherit delays from earlier ones, so the first departures of the day usually run best.
- Which airline is most on time from DAL to DCA?
- Southwest, with a season-adjusted 67% chance of operating and arriving on time over 1,735 flights. The adjustment compares each airline with what the route did in the months it flew, so a carrier that skipped a stormy month gets no free credit.
- What is the worst month for delays on DAL to DCA?
- May (64% on time); the best was January (81%), averaged over Jun 2023 to May 2026.
- Is this a prediction for my flight?
- No. These are historical odds from the US DOT on-time reports, FAA advisories and airport weather records. Check your flight status and the FAA delay board on the day you fly.
More routes from DAL
- DCA to DAL (return)
- DAL to HOU 74%
- DAL to ATL 79%
- DAL to DEN 69%
- DAL to PHX 76%
- DAL to LAS 76%
- DAL to SAT 79%
- DAL to MCO 71%
- DAL to BNA 73%
- DAL to AUS 78%
- DAL to MSY 76%
- DAL to MDW 71%
- DAL to MCI 76%
Most on-time flights from DAL on every route →
Live status: FAA delays and ground stops