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Route on-time record

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

Houston (George Bush Intercontinental Airport) to Washington (Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport). 3,116 nonstop flights in Jun 2025 to May 2026, 75% arrived within 15 minutes and 1.8% were cancelled. The most reliable flight number was United 512 at 7:35 AM.

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

IAH → DCA

Houston to Washington: 3,116 nonstop flights a year

On time (12 months)

75%

Cancelled

1.8%

avg delay 18 min

Best time to leave

Before 9 AM

90% on time vs 65% 3 to 6 PM

Most reliable airline

United

75% chance on time

Check IAH to DCA fares

Lowest nonstop fare seen in the next two months: $298 (United 1966 on 2026-10-26). 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 · United 512

    7:35 AM → 11:35 AM3h 05m nonstop

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

    92%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    93%
    Cancelled
    1.2%
    Avg arrival delay
    5 min
    • Arrived on time 93% of the time (256 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 90% on time; 3 to 6 PM: 65%).
    • Departs outside IAH's trouble window (noon to 6 PM, when 60% of its 92 ground stops and delay programs started).

    Strong track record · 256 flights

    Find United 512 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  2. #2 · United 2311

    9:30 AM → 1:36 PM3h 05m nonstop

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

    85%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    86%
    Cancelled
    0.3%
    Avg arrival delay
    8 min
    • Arrived on time 86% of the time (303 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Departs outside IAH's trouble window (noon to 6 PM, when 60% of its 92 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.

    Strong track record · 303 flights

    Find United 2311 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  3. #3 · United 2140

    7:46 AM → 11:56 AM3h 10m nonstop

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

    85%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    73%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    8 min
    • Arrived on time 73% of the time (11 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 90% on time; 3 to 6 PM: 65%).
    • Departs outside IAH's trouble window (noon to 6 PM, when 60% of its 92 ground stops and delay programs started).
    • Short track record (11 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.

    Limited track record · 11 flights

    Find United 2140 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  4. #4 · Republic 4766 · sold as American Eagle, Delta Connection or United Express

    6:28 AM → 10:40 AM3h 12m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-07.

    78%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    85%
    Cancelled
    7.1%
    Avg arrival delay
    13 min
    • Arrived on time 85% of the time (78 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Cancelled 7.1% of the time (6 of 84).
    • Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 90% on time; 3 to 6 PM: 65%).
    • Departs outside IAH's trouble window (noon to 6 PM, when 60% of its 92 ground stops and delay programs started).

    Moderate track record · 78 flights

    Find 6:28 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  5. #5 · United 654

    12:00 PM → 4:04 PM3h 04m nonstop

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

    77%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    77%
    Cancelled
    0.7%
    Avg arrival delay
    17 min
    • Arrived on time 77% of the time (296 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Departs inside IAH's trouble window: 60% of its 92 ground stops and delay programs started between noon and 6 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 · 296 flights

    Find United 654 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  6. #6 · PSA 5598 · sold as American Eagle

    9:02 AM → 1:16 PM3h 14m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as PSA 5599; its record covers all of them.

    77%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    82%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    16 min
    • Arrived on time 82% of the time (45 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Never cancelled in 45 scheduled flights.
    • Departs outside IAH's trouble window (noon to 6 PM, when 60% of its 92 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.

    Limited track record · 45 flights

    Find 9:02 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  7. #7 · United 625

    2:45 PM → 6:50 PM3h 05m nonstop

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

    75%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    76%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    11 min
    • Arrived on time 76% of the time (72 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Never cancelled in 75 scheduled flights.
    • Departs inside IAH's trouble window: 60% of its 92 ground stops and delay programs started between noon and 6 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 United 625 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  8. #8 · PSA 5247 · sold as American Eagle

    5:58 AM → 10:11 AM3h 13m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as PSA 5163; its record covers all of them.

    72%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    78%
    Cancelled
    3.7%
    Avg arrival delay
    19 min
    • Arrived on time 78% of the time (51 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Cancelled 3.7% of the time (2 of 54).
    • Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 90% on time; 3 to 6 PM: 65%).
    • Departs outside IAH's trouble window (noon to 6 PM, when 60% of its 92 ground stops and delay programs started).

    Limited track record · 51 flights

    Find 5:58 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  9. #9 · United 2224

    7:53 PM → 11:59 PM3h 06m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as United 750; its record covers all of them.

    68%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    68%
    Cancelled
    1.8%
    Avg arrival delay
    22 min
    • Arrived on time 68% of the time (327 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Departs outside IAH's trouble window (noon to 6 PM, when 60% of its 92 ground stops and delay programs started).

    Strong track record · 327 flights

    Find United 2224 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  10. #10 · United 2332

    4:55 PM → 9:06 PM3h 11m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as United 1114, 1346, 462; its record covers all of them.

    68%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    68%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    35 min
    • Arrived on time 68% of the time (88 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Never cancelled in 88 scheduled flights.
    • Leaves in this route's least on-time window (3 to 6 PM: 65% on time; Before 9 AM: 90%).
    • Departs inside IAH's trouble window: 60% of its 92 ground stops and delay programs started between noon and 6 PM.

    Moderate track record · 88 flights

    Find United 2332 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

Airlines on this route

Season-adjusted chance of operating and arriving on time.

  • United Airlines75%

    2,409 flights · 75% on time as flown · 1.0% cancel

  • Republic Airways (sold as American Eagle, Delta Connection or United Express)70%

    513 flights · 76% on time as flown · 4.2% cancel

  • PSA Airlines (sold as American Eagle)67%

    194 flights · 68% on time as flown · 2.8% cancel

On time by departure time

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

  • Before 9 AM90%

    614 flights · avg delay 8 min

  • 9 AM to noon79%

    707 flights · avg delay 13 min

  • Noon to 3 PM76%

    495 flights · avg delay 17 min

  • 3 to 6 PM65%

    587 flights · avg delay 29 min

  • 6 to 9 PM66%

    713 flights · avg delay 24 min

Best day: Tuesday (81%). Worst: Friday (74%).

Smarter routing

Nearby airports that run more on time

  • IAH → IAD 79% chance on time

    George Bush Intercontinental Airport to Washington Dulles International Airport · 1,862 flights a year · 23 mi from your airports · yours: 74%

    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
84
F
74
M
76
A
80
M
71
J
68
J
67
A
73
S
80
O
83
N
81
D
82

What delays this route

  • Late-arriving aircraft36%
  • Air traffic control and airport volume36%
  • Airline (crew, maintenance, boarding)20%
  • Severe weather8%

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

IAH to DCA questions

What time of day is best to fly IAH to DCA?
Before 9 AM: 90% of flights arrived on time, against 65% 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 IAH to DCA?
United, with a season-adjusted 75% chance of operating and arriving on time over 2,409 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 IAH to DCA?
July (67% on time); the best was January (84%), 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 IAH

Live status: FAA delays and ground stops