Best Time to Fly DCA to DFW: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Ronald Reagan Washington National → Dallas/Fort Worth International
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
3,301 flights were scheduled from Washington (DCA) to Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) in the last 12 months, and 78.3% of those that flew arrived on time, 0.7 points above the US average of 77.6%.
American Airlines was the only reporting airline with regular flights on this route.
Over 24 months, Tuesday was the most reliable day (82% on time) and August the worst month (74%).
The cancellation rate was 3.1% (US average 1.8%).
DCA to DFW 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 | 78.3% | 85 min | 3.1% | 3,301 |
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly DCA to DFW
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 6,842 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5am–6am | 91.9% | 3.0% | 528 |
| 6am–7am | 87.7% | 3.6% | 743 |
| 7am–8am | 86.7% | 3.6% | 415 |
| 8am–9am | 83.8% | 2.6% | 385 |
| 9am–10am | 83.0% | 2.1% | 437 |
| 10am–11am | 85.7% | 2.4% | 717 |
| 11am–12pm | 83.4% | 1.7% | 704 |
| 12pm–1pm | 81.1% | 1.5% | 130 |
| 1pm–2pm | 78.0% | 3.0% | 568 |
| 2pm–3pm | 79.9% | 2.3% | 300 |
| 3pm–4pm | 76.1% | 2.6% | 460 |
| 4pm–5pm | 63.1% | 1.5% | 66 |
| 5pm–6pm | 62.3% | 4.2% | 668 |
| 6pm–7pm | 67.8% | 5.4% | 387 |
| 7pm–8pm | 58.8% | 6.3% | 333 |
| 10pm–11pm | Limited data | 1 | |
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 DFW
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) | 77.3% | -3.1 pts | 0.0% | 119 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 81.6% | +1.2 pts | 2.2% | 274 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 75.3% | -5.1 pts | 5.0% | 1,103 |
| All other days | 80.4% | — | 2.9% | 5,346 |
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).