Route on-time record
DCA to IAH: most on-time flights and the best time to fly
Washington (Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport) to Houston (George Bush Intercontinental Airport). 3,113 nonstop flights in Jun 2025 to May 2026, 81% arrived within 15 minutes and 1.9% were cancelled. The most reliable flight number was United 1450 at 6:00 AM.
Flying on a specific date? We’ll adjust for the month, the weekday and the forecast.
DCA → IAH
Washington to Houston: 3,113 nonstop flights a year
On time (12 months)
81%
Cancelled
1.9%
avg delay 16 min
Best time to leave
Before 9 AM
91% on time vs 62% 3 to 6 PM
Most reliable airline
United
83% chance on time
Lowest nonstop fare seen in the next two months: $304 (American 5278 on 2026-11-03). 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 · United 1450
6:00 AM → 8:31 AM3h 31m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
91%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 93%
- Cancelled
- 1.8%
- Avg arrival delay
- 5 min
- Arrived on time 93% of the time (323 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 91% on time; 3 to 6 PM: 62%).
- 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 · 323 flights
Find United 1450 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#2 · United 697
8:30 AM → 11:08 AM3h 38m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
91%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 93%
- Cancelled
- 2.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 5 min
- Arrived on time 93% of the time (335 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 91% on time; 3 to 6 PM: 62%).
- 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 · 335 flights
Find United 697 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#3 · United 382
12:40 PM → 3:15 PM3h 35m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
90%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 90%
- Cancelled
- 0.3%
- Avg arrival delay
- 10 min
- Arrived on time 90% of the time (305 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 IAH's trouble window: 60% of its 92 ground stops and delay programs started between noon and 6 PM.
Strong track record · 305 flights
Find United 382 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#4 · United 2190
11:05 AM → 1:37 PM3h 32m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
87%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 87%
- Cancelled
- 0.9%
- Avg arrival delay
- 13 min
- Arrived on time 87% of the time (107 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 IAH's trouble window: 60% of its 92 ground stops and delay programs started between noon and 6 PM.
Moderate track record · 107 flights
Find United 2190 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#5 · United 1381
2:33 PM → 5:08 PM3h 35m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
80%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 81%
- Cancelled
- 0.4%
- Avg arrival delay
- 13 min
- Arrived on time 81% of the time (248 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.
- Lands inside IAH's trouble window: 60% of its 92 ground stops and delay programs started between noon and 6 PM.
Strong track record · 248 flights
Find United 1381 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#6 · PSA 5599 · sold as American Eagle
6:00 AM → 8:37 AM3h 37m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-20.
79%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 76%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 18 min
- Arrived on time 76% of the time (37 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 37 scheduled flights.
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 91% on time; 3 to 6 PM: 62%).
- 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 · 37 flights
Find 6:00 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales#7 · United 1678
7:59 PM → 10:34 PM3h 35m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
79%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 77%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 31 min
- Arrived on time 77% of the time (75 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 75 scheduled flights.
- 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 · 75 flights
Find United 1678 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#8 · PSA 5224 · sold as American Eagle
6:30 AM → 9:12 AM3h 42m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-06.
78%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 82%
- Cancelled
- 8.1%
- Avg arrival delay
- 12 min
- Arrived on time 82% of the time (34 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Cancelled 8.1% of the time (3 of 37).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 91% on time; 3 to 6 PM: 62%).
- 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 · 34 flights
Find 6:30 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales#9 · PSA 5132 · sold as American Eagle
1:55 PM → 4:34 PM3h 39m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-20.
68%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 70%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 18 min
- Arrived on time 70% of the time (44 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 44 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 IAH's trouble window: 60% of its 92 ground stops and delay programs started between noon and 6 PM.
Limited track record · 44 flights
Find 1:55 PM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales#10 · PSA 5639 · sold as American Eagle
1:44 PM → 4:12 PM3h 28m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
68%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 78%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 18 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.
- Lands inside IAH's trouble window: 60% of its 92 ground stops and delay programs started between noon and 6 PM.
- 55% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.
Limited track record · 9 flights
Find 1:44 PM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales
Airlines on this route
Season-adjusted chance of operating and arriving on time.
- United Airlines83%
2,408 flights · 83% on time as flown · 1.1% cancel
- PSA Airlines (sold as American Eagle)72%
194 flights · 70% on time as flown · 3.2% cancel
- Republic Airways (sold as American Eagle, Delta Connection or United Express)70%
511 flights · 76% on time as flown · 4.4% cancel
On time by departure time
All airlines, scheduled local departure, Jun 2025 to May 2026.
- Before 9 AM91%
921 flights · avg delay 6 min
- 9 AM to noon87%
369 flights · avg delay 11 min
- Noon to 3 PM81%
914 flights · avg delay 16 min
- 3 to 6 PM62%
352 flights · avg delay 37 min
- 6 to 9 PM75%
557 flights · avg delay 24 min
Best day: Saturday (87%). Worst: Friday (80%).
Smarter routing
Nearby airports that run more on time
IAD → IAH 82% chance on time
Washington Dulles International Airport to George Bush Intercontinental Airport · 1,865 flights a year · 23 mi from your airports · yours: 80%
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 aircraft42%
- Air traffic control and airport volume29%
- Airline (crew, maintenance, boarding)24%
- 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 IAH questions
- What time of day is best to fly DCA to IAH?
- Before 9 AM: 91% of flights arrived on time, against 62% for departures 3 to 6 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 IAH?
- United, with a season-adjusted 83% chance of operating and arriving on time over 2,408 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 IAH?
- July (71% on time); the best was October (89%), 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
- IAH 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 DTW 76%
- DCA to CLT 78%
- DCA to MSP 78%
- DCA to JFK 77%
Live status: FAA delays and ground stops