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Route on-time record

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

Dallas-Fort Worth (Dallas Fort Worth International Airport) to Washington (Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport). 3,309 nonstop flights in Jun 2025 to May 2026, 72% arrived within 15 minutes and 3.4% were cancelled. The most reliable flight number was American 1618 at 5:06 AM.

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

DFW → DCA

Dallas-Fort Worth to Washington: 3,309 nonstop flights a year

On time (12 months)

72%

Cancelled

3.4%

avg delay 18 min

Best time to leave

Before 9 AM

86% on time vs 62% 6 to 9 PM

Most reliable airline

American

70% chance on time

Check DFW to DCA fares

Lowest nonstop fare seen in the next two months: $178 (American 1414 on 2026-10-24). 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 · American 1618

    5:06 AM → 9:04 AM2h 58m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as American 1497; its record covers all of them.

    87%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    89%
    Cancelled
    1.5%
    Avg arrival delay
    8 min
    • Arrived on time 89% of the time (201 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 86% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 62%).
    • Departs outside DFW's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 53% of its 139 ground stops and delay programs started).

    Strong track record · 201 flights

    Find American 1618 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  2. #2 · American 1623

    7:00 AM → 11:03 AM3h 03m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as American 869; its record covers all of them.

    82%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    85%
    Cancelled
    2.2%
    Avg arrival delay
    9 min
    • Arrived on time 85% of the time (356 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 86% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 62%).
    • Departs outside DFW's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 53% of its 139 ground stops and delay programs started).

    Strong track record · 356 flights

    Find American 1623 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  3. #3 · American 1177

    8:32 AM → 12:34 PM3h 01m nonstop

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

    82%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    85%
    Cancelled
    3.6%
    Avg arrival delay
    8 min
    • Arrived on time 85% of the time (292 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Cancelled 3.6% of the time (11 of 304).
    • Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 86% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 62%).
    • Departs outside DFW's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 53% of its 139 ground stops and delay programs started).

    Strong track record · 292 flights

    Find American 1177 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  4. #4 · American 1624

    10:40 AM → 2:42 PM3h 02m nonstop

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

    76%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    79%
    Cancelled
    2.8%
    Avg arrival delay
    17 min
    • Arrived on time 79% of the time (170 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Departs outside DFW's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 53% of its 139 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.
    • 57% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.

    Moderate track record · 170 flights

    Find American 1624 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  5. #5 · American 1244

    10:59 AM → 2:54 PM2h 55m nonstop

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

    71%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    73%
    Cancelled
    2.2%
    Avg arrival delay
    14 min
    • Arrived on time 73% of the time (136 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Departs outside DFW's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 53% of its 139 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.

    Moderate track record · 136 flights

    Find American 1244 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  6. #6 · American 2572

    5:17 PM → 9:22 PM3h 05m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-19.

    67%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    76%
    Cancelled
    2.3%
    Avg arrival delay
    15 min
    • Arrived on time 76% of the time (41 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Departs inside DFW's trouble window: 53% of its 139 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
    • 59% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.
    • Short track record (41 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.

    Limited track record · 41 flights

    Find American 2572 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  7. #7 · American 3108

    12:24 PM → 4:29 PM3h 05m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-19.

    67%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    74%
    Cancelled
    2.3%
    Avg arrival delay
    28 min
    • Arrived on time 74% of the time (43 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Departs outside DFW's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 53% of its 139 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.
    • Short track record (43 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.

    Limited track record · 43 flights

    Find American 3108 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  8. #8 · American 3187

    1:54 PM → 5:59 PM3h 05m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-19.

    66%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    69%
    Cancelled
    4.5%
    Avg arrival delay
    19 min
    • Arrived on time 69% of the time (42 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Cancelled 4.5% of the time (2 of 44).
    • Departs inside DFW's trouble window: 53% of its 139 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 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 · 42 flights

    Find American 3187 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  9. #9 · American 1980

    2:47 PM → 6:42 PM2h 55m nonstop

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

    65%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    66%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    22 min
    • Arrived on time 66% of the time (29 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Never cancelled in 30 scheduled flights.
    • Departs inside DFW's trouble window: 53% of its 139 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 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 · 29 flights

    Find American 1980 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  10. #10 · American 1629

    3:52 PM → 7:57 PM3h 05m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-20. Same departure also flew as American 3008; its record covers all of them.

    64%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    68%
    Cancelled
    3.5%
    Avg arrival delay
    18 min
    • Arrived on time 68% of the time (165 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Cancelled 3.5% of the time (6 of 173).
    • Departs inside DFW's trouble window: 53% of its 139 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
    • 59% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.

    Moderate track record · 165 flights

    Find American 1629 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

Airlines on this route

Season-adjusted chance of operating and arriving on time.

  • American Airlines70%

    3,309 flights · 72% on time as flown · 3.4% cancel

On time by departure time

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

  • Before 9 AM86%

    1,041 flights · avg delay 9 min

  • 9 AM to noon77%

    407 flights · avg delay 14 min

  • Noon to 3 PM65%

    654 flights · avg delay 24 min

  • 3 to 6 PM62%

    637 flights · avg delay 23 min

  • 6 to 9 PM62%

    501 flights · avg delay 29 min

Best day: Saturday (78%). Worst: Sunday (72%).

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 · 23 mi from your airports · yours: 70%

    Rank flightsFares

  • DAL → BWI 73% chance on time

    Dallas Love Field to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport · 1,827 flights a year · 42 mi from your airports · yours: 70%

    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
78
F
76
M
73
A
73
M
69
J
68
J
70
A
75
S
76
O
78
N
79
D
79

What delays this route

  • Late-arriving aircraft43%
  • Airline (crew, maintenance, boarding)32%
  • Air traffic control and airport volume17%
  • Severe weather9%

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

DFW to DCA questions

What time of day is best to fly DFW to DCA?
Before 9 AM: 86% of flights arrived on time, against 62% 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 DFW to DCA?
American, with a season-adjusted 70% chance of operating and arriving on time over 3,309 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 DFW to DCA?
June (68% on time); the best was December (79%), 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 DFW

Live status: FAA delays and ground stops