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Route on-time record

DCA to DTW: most on-time flights and the best time to fly

Washington (Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport) to Detroit (Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport). 2,974 nonstop flights in Jun 2025 to May 2026, 76% arrived within 15 minutes and 3.8% were cancelled. The most reliable flight number was Delta 2869 at 6:00 AM.

Flying on a specific date? We’ll adjust for the month, the weekday and the forecast.

DCA → DTW

Washington to Detroit: 2,974 nonstop flights a year

On time (12 months)

76%

Cancelled

3.8%

avg delay 22 min

Best time to leave

Before 9 AM

90% on time vs 57% after 9 PM

Most reliable airline

Delta

77% chance on time

Check DCA to DTW fares

Lowest nonstop fare seen in the next two months: $152 (American 5660 on 2026-10-22). 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. #1 · Delta 2869

    6:00 AM → 7:39 AM1h 33m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.

    91%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    94%
    Cancelled
    3.3%
    Avg arrival delay
    10 min
    • Arrived on time 94% of the time (353 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Cancelled 3.3% of the time (12 of 365).
    • Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 90% on time; After 9 PM: 57%).
    • Departs outside DCA's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started).

    Strong track record · 353 flights

    Find Delta 2869 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  2. #2 · Republic 4618 · sold as American Eagle, Delta Connection or United Express

    12:29 PM → 2:20 PM1h 51m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-20.

    86%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    92%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    2 min
    • Arrived on time 92% of the time (38 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Never cancelled in 38 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 DTW's trouble window: 64% of its 28 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.

    Limited track record · 38 flights

    Find 12:29 PM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  3. #3 · Delta 2476

    12:29 PM → 2:08 PM1h 38m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.

    84%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    86%
    Cancelled
    2.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    11 min
    • Arrived on time 86% of the time (350 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 DTW's trouble window: 64% of its 28 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.

    Strong track record · 350 flights

    Find Delta 2476 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  4. #4 · Delta 1558

    9:40 AM → 11:18 AM1h 37m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.

    84%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    85%
    Cancelled
    1.9%
    Avg arrival delay
    12 min
    • Arrived on time 85% of the time (354 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).
    • 58% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.

    Strong track record · 354 flights

    Find Delta 1558 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  5. #5 · PSA 5221 · sold as American Eagle

    7:59 AM → 9:44 AM1h 45m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-20.

    80%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    88%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    9 min
    • Arrived on time 88% of the time (43 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Never cancelled in 44 scheduled flights.
    • Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 90% on time; After 9 PM: 57%).
    • 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 · 43 flights

    Find 7:59 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  6. #6 · PSA 5660 · sold as American Eagle

    7:41 AM → 9:31 AM1h 50m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-06.

    79%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    85%
    Cancelled
    6.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    13 min
    • Arrived on time 85% of the time (188 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Cancelled 6.0% of the time (12 of 200).
    • Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 90% on time; After 9 PM: 57%).
    • 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 · 188 flights

    Find 7:41 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  7. #7 · Republic 4616 · sold as American Eagle, Delta Connection or United Express

    11:50 AM → 1:41 PM1h 51m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-06.

    79%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    84%
    Cancelled
    1.3%
    Avg arrival delay
    15 min
    • Arrived on time 84% of the time (74 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 DTW's trouble window: 64% of its 28 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
    • 70% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.

    Moderate track record · 74 flights

    Find 11:50 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  8. #8 · PSA 5516 · sold as American Eagle

    7:50 AM → 9:33 AM1h 43m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-30.

    77%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    89%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    6 min
    • Arrived on time 89% of the time (9 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 90% on time; After 9 PM: 57%).
    • 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 (9 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.

    Limited track record · 9 flights

    Find 7:50 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  9. #9 · Republic 4759 · sold as American Eagle, Delta Connection or United Express

    5:24 PM → 7:15 PM1h 51m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-20.

    72%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    86%
    Cancelled
    2.6%
    Avg arrival delay
    9 min
    • Arrived on time 86% of the time (37 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.
    • Short track record (37 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.

    Limited track record · 37 flights

    Find 5:24 PM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  10. #10 · Delta 2030

    7:59 PM → 9:46 PM1h 41m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.

    66%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    68%
    Cancelled
    3.7%
    Avg arrival delay
    36 min
    • Arrived on time 68% of the time (284 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Cancelled 3.7% of the time (11 of 295).
    • Departs outside DCA's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started).

    Strong track record · 284 flights

    Find Delta 2030 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

Airlines on this route

Season-adjusted chance of operating and arriving on time.

  • Delta Air Lines77%

    1,744 flights · 79% on time as flown · 2.5% cancel

  • Republic Airways (sold as American Eagle, Delta Connection or United Express)76%

    268 flights · 81% on time as flown · 3.5% cancel

  • PSA Airlines (sold as American Eagle)66%

    956 flights · 70% on time as flown · 6.3% cancel

On time by departure time

All airlines, scheduled local departure, Jun 2025 to May 2026.

  • Before 9 AM90%

    675 flights · avg delay 10 min

  • 9 AM to noon84%

    520 flights · avg delay 14 min

  • Noon to 3 PM80%

    563 flights · avg delay 18 min

  • 3 to 6 PM61%

    562 flights · avg delay 33 min

  • 6 to 9 PM66%

    540 flights · avg delay 33 min

  • After 9 PM57%

    114 flights · avg delay 47 min

Best day: Saturday (85%). Worst: Friday (77%).

Smarter routing

Nearby airports that run more on time

  • BWI → DTW 80% chance on time

    Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport · 2,269 flights a year · 30 mi from your airports · yours: 73%

    Rank flightsFares

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.

J
75
F
78
M
78
A
79
M
77
J
75
J
69
A
79
S
87
O
90
N
85
D
78

What delays this route

  • Late-arriving aircraft55%
  • Airline (crew, maintenance, boarding)26%
  • Air traffic control and airport volume14%
  • Severe weather5%

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 DTW questions

What time of day is best to fly DCA to DTW?
Before 9 AM: 90% of flights arrived on time, against 57% for departures after 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 DTW?
Delta, with a season-adjusted 77% chance of operating and arriving on time over 1,744 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 DTW?
July (69% on time); the best was October (90%), 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

Live status: FAA delays and ground stops