Best Time to Fly DCA to HOU: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Ronald Reagan Washington National → William P Hobby
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
Over the last 12 months, 76.7% of Washington (DCA) to Houston (HOU) flights arrived on time (1,053 scheduled flights). That is 0.9 points below the national average of 77.6%.
Southwest Airlines was the only reporting airline with regular flights on this route.
October has been the best month (87% on time) and Sunday the weakest day of the week (71%).
1.8% of flights were cancelled, versus 1.8% nationally.
DCA to HOU 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Airlines | 76.7% | 61 min | 1.8% | 1,053 |
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly DCA to HOU
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 2,100 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6am–7am | 92.0% | 2.0% | 693 |
| 7am–8am | 90.0% | 0.0% | 31 |
| 9am–10am | Limited data | 5 | |
| 10am–11am | Limited data | 1 | |
| 11am–12pm | Limited data | 6 | |
| 12pm–1pm | 69.5% | 0.0% | 132 |
| 1pm–2pm | 76.9% | 1.1% | 477 |
| 2pm–3pm | Limited data | 22 | |
| 3pm–4pm | 69.7% | 2.9% | 34 |
| 4pm–5pm | 69.4% | 0.0% | 36 |
| 5pm–6pm | 60.0% | 0.0% | 30 |
| 6pm–7pm | 63.5% | 3.7% | 457 |
| 7pm–8pm | 68.4% | 2.8% | 176 |
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 HOU
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) | 90.0% | +10.0 pts | 0.0% | 40 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 82.2% | +2.2 pts | 0.0% | 90 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 66.0% | -14.0 pts | 3.0% | 365 |
| All other days | 80.0% | — | 1.9% | 1,605 |
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).