Route on-time record
DTW to DCA: most on-time flights and the best time to fly
Detroit (Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport) to Washington (Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport). 2,973 nonstop flights in Jun 2025 to May 2026, 68% arrived within 15 minutes and 3.8% were cancelled. The most reliable flight number was Delta 2476 at 10:00 AM.
Flying on a specific date? We’ll adjust for the month, the weekday and the forecast.
DTW → DCA
Detroit to Washington: 2,973 nonstop flights a year
On time (12 months)
68%
Cancelled
3.8%
avg delay 27 min
Best time to leave
9 AM to noon
84% on time vs 45% 6 to 9 PM
Most reliable airline
Delta
67% chance on time
Lowest nonstop fare seen in the next two months: $123 (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 · Delta 2476
10:00 AM → 11:32 AM1h 32m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
86%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 88%
- Cancelled
- 2.2%
- Avg arrival delay
- 8 min
- Arrived on time 88% of the time (353 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (9 AM to noon: 84% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 45%).
- Departs outside DTW's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 64% of its 28 ground stops and delay programs started).
Strong track record · 353 flights
Find Delta 2476 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#2 · Delta 1558
7:05 AM → 8:37 AM1h 32m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
77%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 79%
- Cancelled
- 1.9%
- Avg arrival delay
- 12 min
- Arrived on time 79% of the time (353 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs outside DTW's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 64% of its 28 ground stops and delay programs started).
Strong track record · 353 flights
Find Delta 1558 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#3 · PSA 5516 · sold as American Eagle
10:03 AM → 11:46 AM1h 43m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as PSA 5660; its record covers all of them.
75%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 79%
- Cancelled
- 5.2%
- Avg arrival delay
- 36 min
- Arrived on time 79% of the time (239 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Cancelled 5.2% of the time (13 of 252).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (9 AM to noon: 84% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 45%).
- Departs outside DTW's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 64% of its 28 ground stops and delay programs started).
Strong track record · 239 flights
Find 10:03 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales#4 · PSA 5217 · sold as American Eagle
11:18 AM → 12:59 PM1h 41m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-20.
75%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 84%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 11 min
- Arrived on time 84% 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 (9 AM to noon: 84% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 45%).
- Departs outside DTW's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 64% of its 28 ground stops and delay programs started).
Limited track record · 44 flights
Find 11:18 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales#5 · PSA 5444 · sold as American Eagle
6:00 AM → 7:46 AM1h 46m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-20.
73%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 78%
- Cancelled
- 8.9%
- Avg arrival delay
- 32 min
- Arrived on time 78% of the time (143 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Cancelled 8.9% of the time (14 of 158).
- Departs outside DTW's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 64% of its 28 ground stops and delay programs started).
Moderate track record · 143 flights
Find 6:00 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales#6 · PSA 5244 · sold as American Eagle
6:50 AM → 8:39 AM1h 49m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-30.
71%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 77%
- Cancelled
- 5.4%
- Avg arrival delay
- 30 min
- Arrived on time 77% of the time (104 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Cancelled 5.4% of the time (6 of 111).
- Departs outside DTW's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 64% of its 28 ground stops and delay programs started).
Moderate track record · 104 flights
Find 6:50 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales#7 · Delta 2073
9:22 PM → 10:51 PM1h 29m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
67%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 69%
- Cancelled
- 2.8%
- Avg arrival delay
- 23 min
- Arrived on time 69% of the time (352 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs outside DTW's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 64% of its 28 ground stops and delay programs started).
Strong track record · 352 flights
Find Delta 2073 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#8 · Republic 4618 · sold as American Eagle, Delta Connection or United Express
2:50 PM → 4:34 PM1h 44m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-20.
55%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 68%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 13 min
- Arrived on time 68% of the time (38 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 38 scheduled flights.
- Departs inside DTW's trouble window: 64% of its 28 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 · 38 flights
Find 2:50 PM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales#9 · Delta 2030
5:30 PM → 6:59 PM1h 29m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
54%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 56%
- Cancelled
- 3.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 33 min
- Arrived on time 56% of the time (285 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Cancelled 3.0% of the time (9 of 297).
- Departs inside DTW's trouble window: 64% of its 28 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.
Strong track record · 285 flights
Find Delta 2030 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#10 · Republic 4616 · sold as American Eagle, Delta Connection or United Express
2:18 PM → 3:59 PM1h 41m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-06.
53%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 58%
- Cancelled
- 4.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 36 min
- Arrived on time 58% of the time (72 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Cancelled 4.0% of the time (3 of 75).
- Departs inside DTW's trouble window: 64% of its 28 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.
Moderate track record · 72 flights
Find 2:18 PM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales
Airlines on this route
Season-adjusted chance of operating and arriving on time.
- Delta Air Lines67%
1,744 flights · 68% on time as flown · 2.3% cancel
- PSA Airlines (sold as American Eagle)66%
955 flights · 70% on time as flown · 6.2% cancel
- Republic Airways (sold as American Eagle, Delta Connection or United Express)60%
268 flights · 64% on time as flown · 4.5% cancel
On time by departure time
All airlines, scheduled local departure, Jun 2025 to May 2026.
- Before 9 AM79%
680 flights · avg delay 20 min
- 9 AM to noon84%
718 flights · avg delay 18 min
- Noon to 3 PM55%
425 flights · avg delay 37 min
- 3 to 6 PM53%
615 flights · avg delay 35 min
- 6 to 9 PM45%
173 flights · avg delay 54 min
- After 9 PM69%
362 flights · avg delay 23 min
Best day: Saturday (83%). Worst: Friday (72%).
Smarter routing
Nearby airports that run more on time
DTW → BWI 80% chance on time
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport · 2,273 flights a year · 30 mi from your airports · yours: 66%
DTW → IAD 72% chance on time
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport to Washington Dulles International Airport · 1,111 flights a year · 23 mi from your airports · yours: 66%
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
- Air traffic control and airport volume36%
- Airline (crew, maintenance, boarding)30%
- Late-arriving aircraft29%
- 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
DTW to DCA questions
- What time of day is best to fly DTW to DCA?
- 9 AM to noon: 84% of flights arrived on time, against 45% for departures 6 to 9 PM.
- Which airline is most on time from DTW to DCA?
- Delta, with a season-adjusted 67% 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 DTW to DCA?
- July (65% on time); the best was October (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 DTW
- DCA to DTW (return)
- DTW to ORD 72%
- DTW to ATL 78%
- DTW to LGA 75%
- DTW to MCO 75%
- DTW to EWR 75%
- DTW to CLT 84%
- DTW to DFW 76%
- DTW to DEN 79%
- DTW to PHL 79%
- DTW to LAS 77%
- DTW to FLL 72%
- DTW to BOS 74%
Live status: FAA delays and ground stops