Best Time to Fly DCA to CAE: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Ronald Reagan Washington National → Columbia Metropolitan
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
1,091 flights were scheduled from Washington (DCA) to Columbia (CAE) in the last 12 months, and 67.1% of those that flew arrived on time, 10.5 points below the US average of 77.6%.
Republic Airways was the most punctual of the 2 airlines on the route at 83.5%, while PSA Airlines trailed at 64.3%.
October has been the best month (81% on time) and Monday the weakest day of the week (64%).
5.2% of flights were cancelled, versus 1.8% nationally.
DCA to CAE 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republic Airways | 83.5% | 53 min | 3.6% | 138 |
| PSA Airlines | 64.3% | 75 min | 5.4% | 923 |
| Envoy Air | Limited data | 30 | ||
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly DCA to CAE
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 2,144 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7am–8am | 93.0% | 0.0% | 43 |
| 8am–9am | 76.9% | 4.0% | 574 |
| 9am–10am | 88.2% | 7.9% | 101 |
| 11am–12pm | 85.7% | 0.0% | 35 |
| 12pm–1pm | 71.0% | 0.0% | 38 |
| 1pm–2pm | Limited data | 26 | |
| 2pm–3pm | Limited data | 14 | |
| 3pm–4pm | 50.0% | 1.9% | 53 |
| 4pm–5pm | 52.2% | 7.2% | 97 |
| 5pm–6pm | 61.5% | 6.5% | 541 |
| 6pm–7pm | Limited data | 6 | |
| 7pm–8pm | 68.5% | 2.7% | 75 |
| 8pm–9pm | 64.7% | 13.0% | 115 |
| 9pm–10pm | 46.5% | 10.1% | 79 |
| 10pm–11pm | 56.5% | 9.8% | 347 |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on DCA to CAE
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) | 61.0% | -8.1 pts | 0.0% | 41 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 73.0% | +3.9 pts | 0.0% | 74 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 56.2% | -12.9 pts | 12.5% | 352 |
| All other days | 69.0% | — | 5.4% | 1,677 |
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).