Best Time to Fly DCA to CLT: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Ronald Reagan Washington National → Charlotte Douglas International
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
Over the last 12 months, 78.6% of Washington (DCA) to Charlotte (CLT) flights arrived on time (2,673 scheduled flights). That is 1.0 points above the national average of 77.6%.
Among 2 airlines, American Airlines led with 79.8% on time and PSA Airlines was last with 67.9%.
Over 24 months, Tuesday was the most reliable day (82% on time) and July the worst month (69%).
The cancellation rate was 2.7% (US average 1.8%).
DCA to CLT 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | 79.8% | 118 min | 3.0% | 2,407 |
| PSA Airlines | 67.9% | 80 min | 0.0% | 266 |
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly DCA to CLT
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 6,007 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5am–6am | 91.4% | 2.7% | 694 |
| 6am–7am | 89.6% | 4.1% | 705 |
| 7am–8am | 79.6% | 3.9% | 51 |
| 8am–9am | 83.8% | 3.2% | 689 |
| 9am–10am | 84.8% | 1.1% | 93 |
| 10am–11am | 89.2% | 2.3% | 437 |
| 11am–12pm | 75.4% | 1.5% | 459 |
| 12pm–1pm | 70.5% | 1.4% | 148 |
| 1pm–2pm | 74.7% | 1.2% | 677 |
| 2pm–3pm | Limited data | 29 | |
| 3pm–4pm | 70.5% | 2.8% | 437 |
| 5pm–6pm | 65.2% | 3.2% | 711 |
| 6pm–7pm | Limited data | 11 | |
| 7pm–8pm | 64.3% | 3.8% | 688 |
| 8pm–9pm | Limited data | 29 | |
| 9pm–10pm | Limited data | 9 | |
| 10pm–11pm | 80.0% | 3.6% | 140 |
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 CLT
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) | 82.2% | +2.2 pts | 0.0% | 101 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 78.8% | -1.3 pts | 0.0% | 226 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 68.5% | -11.5 pts | 5.5% | 1,000 |
| All other days | 80.0% | — | 2.4% | 4,680 |
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).