Best Time to Fly DCA to STL: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Ronald Reagan Washington National → St Louis Lambert International
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
2,414 flights were scheduled from Washington (DCA) to St. Louis (STL) in the last 12 months, and 73.5% of those that flew arrived on time, 4.1 points below the US average of 77.6%.
Among 4 airlines, Republic Airways led with 78.2% on time and PSA Airlines was last with 67.9%.
Over 24 months, Tuesday was the most reliable day (79% on time) and July the worst month (60%).
The cancellation rate was 2.4% (US average 1.8%).
DCA to STL 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 | 78.2% | 57 min | 4.5% | 222 |
| Southwest Airlines | 75.4% | 60 min | 1.4% | 1,402 |
| American Airlines | 68.4% | 97 min | 2.3% | 175 |
| PSA Airlines | 67.9% | 77 min | 4.2% | 594 |
| Envoy Air | Limited data | 21 | ||
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly DCA to STL
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 4,673 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6am–7am | Limited data | 11 | |
| 7am–8am | 85.7% | 2.5% | 243 |
| 8am–9am | 86.2% | 1.9% | 963 |
| 9am–10am | Limited data | 1 | |
| 10am–11am | Limited data | 9 | |
| 11am–12pm | 81.7% | 1.6% | 61 |
| 12pm–1pm | 84.3% | 0.8% | 747 |
| 1pm–2pm | 70.6% | 2.7% | 112 |
| 2pm–3pm | 69.8% | 0.8% | 508 |
| 3pm–4pm | 69.0% | 2.7% | 558 |
| 4pm–5pm | 66.7% | 5.8% | 69 |
| 5pm–6pm | Limited data | 13 | |
| 6pm–7pm | 63.8% | 2.1% | 722 |
| 7pm–8pm | 67.8% | 8.5% | 283 |
| 8pm–9pm | 60.4% | 5.3% | 281 |
| 9pm–10pm | 54.5% | 11.5% | 87 |
| 10pm–11pm | Limited data | 5 | |
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 STL
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) | 73.3% | -3.6 pts | 1.1% | 91 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 81.9% | +5.0 pts | 0.0% | 166 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 63.0% | -13.9 pts | 4.1% | 802 |
| All other days | 76.9% | — | 2.5% | 3,614 |
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).