Route on-time record
DCA to DAL: most on-time flights and the best time to fly
Washington (Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport) to Dallas (Dallas Love Field). 1,735 nonstop flights in Jun 2025 to May 2026, 74% arrived within 15 minutes and 1.8% were cancelled. The most reliable flight number was Southwest 120 at 6:10 AM.
Flying on a specific date? We’ll adjust for the month, the weekday and the forecast.
DCA → DAL
Washington to Dallas: 1,735 nonstop flights a year
On time (12 months)
74%
Cancelled
1.8%
avg delay 18 min
Best time to leave
Before 9 AM
90% on time vs 61% 6 to 9 PM
Most reliable airline
Southwest
73% chance on time
Lowest nonstop fare seen in the next two months: $52 (Southwest 3824 on 2026-11-14). 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 120
6:10 AM → 8:25 AM3h 15m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
85%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 84%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 7 min
- Arrived on time 84% of the time (55 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 55 scheduled flights.
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 90% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 61%).
- 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 · 55 flights
Find Southwest 120 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#2 · Southwest 3968
10:35 AM → 12:55 PM3h 20m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
80%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 83%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 5 min
- Arrived on time 83% of the time (30 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 31 scheduled flights.
- Departs outside DCA's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started).
- Lands inside DAL's trouble window: 68% of its 40 ground stops and delay programs started between noon and 6 PM.
Limited track record · 30 flights
Find Southwest 3968 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#3 · Southwest 3913
10:25 AM → 12:45 PM3h 20m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-30.
77%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 75%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 14 min
- Arrived on time 75% of the time (8 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).
- Lands 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 3913 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#4 · Southwest 3743
10:55 AM → 1:15 PM3h 20m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-27.
76%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 73%
- Cancelled
- 6.3%
- Avg arrival delay
- 13 min
- Arrived on time 73% of the time (15 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).
- Lands inside DAL's trouble window: 68% of its 40 ground stops and delay programs started between noon and 6 PM.
Limited track record · 15 flights
Find Southwest 3743 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#5 · Southwest 1676
2:00 PM → 4:20 PM3h 20m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as Southwest 2451; its record covers all of them.
75%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 76%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 11 min
- Arrived on time 76% of the time (46 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 47 scheduled flights.
- Departs inside DCA's trouble window: 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
- Lands 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 1676 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#6 · Southwest 2064
3:55 PM → 6:15 PM3h 20m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
70%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 64%
- Cancelled
- 8.3%
- Avg arrival delay
- 26 min
- Arrived on time 64% of the time (22 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.
Limited track record · 22 flights
Find Southwest 2064 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#7 · Southwest 55
5:00 PM → 7:20 PM3h 20m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-29.
63%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 55%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 18 min
- Arrived on time 55% of the time (22 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.
- 55% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.
Limited track record · 22 flights
Find Southwest 55 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#8 · Southwest 1727
8:35 PM → 10:55 PM3h 20m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
61%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 52%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 34 min
- Arrived on time 52% of the time (54 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 54 scheduled flights.
- Leaves in this route's least on-time window (6 to 9 PM: 61% on time; Before 9 AM: 90%).
- 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 · 54 flights
Find Southwest 1727 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
Airlines on this route
Season-adjusted chance of operating and arriving on time.
- Southwest Airlines73%
1,735 flights · 74% on time as flown · 1.8% cancel
On time by departure time
All airlines, scheduled local departure, Jun 2025 to May 2026.
- Before 9 AM90%
365 flights · avg delay 7 min
- 9 AM to noon82%
359 flights · avg delay 11 min
- Noon to 3 PM71%
348 flights · avg delay 17 min
- 3 to 6 PM61%
290 flights · avg delay 28 min
- 6 to 9 PM61%
305 flights · avg delay 31 min
- After 9 PM73%
68 flights · avg delay 18 min
Best day: Saturday (81%). Worst: Sunday (71%).
Smarter routing
Nearby airports that run more on time
IAD → DFW 76% chance on time
Washington Dulles International Airport to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport · 1,920 flights a year · 35 mi from your airports · yours: 73%
BWI → DAL 75% chance on time
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport to Dallas Love Field · 1,824 flights a year · 30 mi from your airports · yours: 73%
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 aircraft48%
- Airline (crew, maintenance, boarding)30%
- Air traffic control and airport volume18%
- Severe weather4%
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 DAL questions
- What time of day is best to fly DCA to DAL?
- Before 9 AM: 90% of flights arrived on time, against 61% 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 DAL?
- Southwest, with a season-adjusted 73% 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 DCA to DAL?
- May (59% on time); the best was October (83%), 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
- DAL 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%
Most on-time flights from DCA on every route →
Live status: FAA delays and ground stops