Route on-time record
DCA to BHM: most on-time flights and the best time to fly
Washington (Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport) to Birmingham (Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport). 1,047 nonstop flights in Jun 2025 to May 2026, 71% arrived within 15 minutes and 4.8% were cancelled. The most reliable flight number was PSA 5098 at 8:43 AM.
Flying on a specific date? We’ll adjust for the month, the weekday and the forecast.
DCA → BHM
Washington to Birmingham: 1,047 nonstop flights a year
On time (12 months)
71%
Cancelled
4.8%
avg delay 24 min
Best time to leave
Before 9 AM
82% on time vs 63% 6 to 9 PM
Most reliable airline
PSA
68% chance on time
Lowest nonstop fare seen in the next two months: $583 (American 3414 on 2026-10-23). 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 · PSA 5098 · sold as American Eagle
8:43 AM → 10:04 AM2h 21m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-20.
75%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 77%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 19 min
- Arrived on time 77% of the time (44 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 44 scheduled flights.
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 82% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 63%).
- Departs outside DCA's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started).
Limited track record · 44 flights
Find 8:43 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales#2 · PSA 5186 · sold as American Eagle
8:21 AM → 9:44 AM2h 23m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-06.
73%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 76%
- Cancelled
- 6.1%
- Avg arrival delay
- 17 min
- Arrived on time 76% of the time (138 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Cancelled 6.1% of the time (9 of 147).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 82% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 63%).
- Departs outside DCA's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started).
Moderate track record · 138 flights
Find 8:21 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales#3 · PSA 5080 · sold as American Eagle
9:00 AM → 10:18 AM2h 18m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
72%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 91%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 4 min
- Arrived on time 91% of the time (11 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs outside DCA's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started).
- Short track record (11 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 11 flights
Find 9:00 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales#4 · PSA 5095 · sold as American Eagle
2:58 PM → 4:12 PM2h 14m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-20.
67%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 73%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 16 min
- Arrived on time 73% of the time (37 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 38 scheduled flights.
- Departs inside DCA's trouble window: 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
- 82% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.
Limited track record · 37 flights
Find 2:58 PM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales#5 · PSA 5078 · sold as American Eagle
2:35 PM → 3:52 PM2h 17m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
65%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 78%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 34 min
- Arrived on time 78% of the time (9 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs inside DCA's trouble window: 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
- 80% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.
- Short track record (9 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 9 flights
Find 2:35 PM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales#6 · PSA 5561 · sold as American Eagle
7:59 PM → 9:19 PM2h 20m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-06.
64%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 66%
- Cancelled
- 6.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 30 min
- Arrived on time 66% of the time (107 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Cancelled 6.0% of the time (7 of 116).
- Leaves in this route's least on-time window (6 to 9 PM: 63% on time; Before 9 AM: 82%).
- Departs outside DCA's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started).
Moderate track record · 107 flights
Find 7:59 PM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales#7 · PSA 5654 · sold as American Eagle
2:52 PM → 4:10 PM2h 18m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-06.
63%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 62%
- Cancelled
- 1.4%
- Avg arrival delay
- 27 min
- Arrived on time 62% of the time (71 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs inside DCA's trouble window: 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
- 60% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.
Moderate track record · 71 flights
Find 2:52 PM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales#8 · PSA 5084 · sold as American Eagle
8:11 PM → 9:26 PM2h 15m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-20.
62%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 66%
- Cancelled
- 2.8%
- Avg arrival delay
- 30 min
- Arrived on time 66% of the time (68 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's least on-time window (6 to 9 PM: 63% on time; Before 9 AM: 82%).
- Departs outside DCA's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started).
- 61% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.
Moderate track record · 68 flights
Find 8:11 PM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales#9 · PSA 5643 · sold as American Eagle
9:40 PM → 10:53 PM2h 13m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
58%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 53%
- Cancelled
- 19.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 48 min
- Arrived on time 53% of the time (34 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Cancelled 19.0% of the time (8 of 42).
- Departs outside DCA's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started).
- Short track record (34 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 34 flights
Find 9:40 PM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales
Airlines on this route
Season-adjusted chance of operating and arriving on time.
- PSA Airlines (sold as American Eagle)68%
926 flights · 71% on time as flown · 4.3% cancel
- Republic Airways (sold as American Eagle, Delta Connection or United Express)66%
120 flights · 71% on time as flown · 6.7% cancel
On time by departure time
All airlines, scheduled local departure, Jun 2025 to May 2026.
- Before 9 AM82%
283 flights · avg delay 14 min
- 9 AM to noon70%
80 flights · avg delay 20 min
- Noon to 3 PM67%
342 flights · avg delay 27 min
- 6 to 9 PM63%
243 flights · avg delay 33 min
- After 9 PM68%
91 flights · avg delay 31 min
Best day: Tuesday (79%). Worst: Sunday (67%).
Smarter routing
Nearby airports that run more on time
BWI → BHM 80% chance on time
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport to Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport · 345 flights a year · 30 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 aircraft57%
- Airline (crew, maintenance, boarding)25%
- Air traffic control and airport volume11%
- Severe weather6%
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
DCA to BHM questions
- What time of day is best to fly DCA to BHM?
- Before 9 AM: 82% of flights arrived on time, against 63% 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 DCA to BHM?
- PSA, with a season-adjusted 68% chance of operating and arriving on time over 926 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 DCA to BHM?
- July (65% on time); the best was November (86%), 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 DCA
- BHM to DCA (return)
- DCA to BOS 71%
- DCA to ORD 74%
- DCA to ATL 78%
- DCA to LGA 67%
- DCA to MCO 74%
- DCA to BNA 77%
- DCA to MIA 75%
- DCA to DFW 77%
- DCA to IAH 81%
- DCA to DTW 76%
- DCA to CLT 78%
- DCA to MSP 78%
Live status: FAA delays and ground stops