Best Time to Fly DAY to DCA: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
James M Cox/Dayton International → Ronald Reagan Washington National
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
964 flights were scheduled from Dayton (DAY) to Washington (DCA) in the last 12 months, and 71.4% of those that flew arrived on time, 6.2 points below the US average of 77.6%.
PSA Airlines was the only reporting airline with regular flights on this route.
September has been the best month (85% on time) and Friday the weakest day of the week (69%).
3.6% of flights were cancelled, versus 1.8% nationally.
DAY to DCA on-time performance by airline
Last 12 months. Airlines with fewer than 30 completed flights are marked “limited data”.
| Airline | On time | Avg delay when late | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA Airlines | 71.4% | 116 min | 3.6% | 964 |
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly DAY to DCA
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 2,112 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6am–7am | 87.9% | 2.9% | 651 |
| 7am–8am | Limited data | 25 | |
| 8am–9am | Limited data | 2 | |
| 9am–10am | 84.2% | 1.9% | 376 |
| 10am–11am | 81.1% | 1.2% | 252 |
| 12pm–1pm | Limited data | 16 | |
| 2pm–3pm | 61.2% | 2.0% | 202 |
| 4pm–5pm | Limited data | 1 | |
| 5pm–6pm | 43.3% | 6.1% | 33 |
| 6pm–7pm | 33.3% | 6.5% | 77 |
| 7pm–8pm | 52.0% | 9.2% | 477 |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on DAY to DCA
On-time arrivals during holiday periods compared with all other days, last 24 months.
| Period | On time | vs other days | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving week (Tue before to Mon after) | 75.0% | +2.3 pts | 0.0% | 40 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 85.0% | +12.3 pts | 0.0% | 40 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 75.4% | +2.7 pts | 7.9% | 318 |
| All other days | 72.7% | — | 3.6% | 1,714 |
Monthly on-time trend
On-time arrival % each month, with the 12-month US average for reference.
What causes delays on this route
Share of reported delay minutes, last 12 months (BTS cause categories).