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Route · DCA → CAE · 2020–2025 BTS data

Washington to Columbia

The DCA–CAE corridor (Washington, DC → Columbia, SC) runs behind the national average, served by 7 carriers across roughly 408 miles.

Data updated 2026-06-13

76.4%
On-time
-2.6 pts
vs US avg
70 min
Delay when late
4,903
Flights

Cancelled

4.9%

Best Month

Oct 2024 88%

Worst Month

Feb 2025 53%

Distance

408 mi

Carriers

7

Monthly Performance

Recent 24 months of route data.

Period Flights Delayed Cancelled Diverted Carriers
Dec 2025 85 38 2 0 OH
Nov 2025 84 28 4 0 OH
Oct 2025 115 27 0 0 OH,YX
Sep 2025 110 23 1 0 OH,YX
Aug 2025 87 24 3 0 YX,OH
Jul 2025 88 26 18 0 OH,YX
Jun 2025 86 28 16 2 OH,YX,MQ
May 2025 87 41 4 1 OH,YX,MQ
Apr 2025 86 22 3 0 OH,YX
Mar 2025 88 31 5 0 OH
Feb 2025 80 38 12 0 OH
Jan 2025 87 28 16 0 OH
Dec 2024 87 30 0 0 OH
Nov 2024 103 19 0 0 YX,OH
Oct 2024 88 11 0 0 OH
Sep 2024 86 17 1 0 OH
Aug 2024 87 30 3 0 MQ,OH,YX
Jul 2024 84 30 5 2 MQ,OH,YX
Jun 2024 80 17 2 0 MQ,OH
May 2024 85 30 2 0 OH
Apr 2024 82 18 0 0 OH
Mar 2024 82 12 0 0 OH
Feb 2024 79 13 1 0 OH,YX
Jan 2024 83 19 6 0 YX,OH

Cancellation Rate

4.9%

104 of 2,109 flights

Diversion Rate

0.2%

5 of 2,109 flights

What the Data Says About DCA to CAE

The Washington to Columbia corridor (DCA to CAE) posts a 76.4% on-time rate on the lower edge of the average band, based on 4,903 tracked flights. Late flights run 69.7 minutes behind on average. 7 carriers cover the 408-mile route; over the last 24 months, 104 of 2,109 flights were cancelled (4.9%) and 0.2% diverted.

The monthly split is wide on this route: Oct 2024 posted the strongest performance at 88% on-time, while Feb 2025 came in at just 53% - a 35-point swing worth factoring into travel timing.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often are flights delayed from DCA to CAE?
Flights from Washington to Columbia have a 76.4% on-time rate based on 4,903 flights. The average delay is 69.7 minutes. The best recent month was Oct 2024 with 88% on-time.
What is the cancellation rate for DCA to CAE?
Over the last 24 months, 4.9% of flights on this route were cancelled (104 of 2,109 flights) and 0.2% were diverted.
How far is the flight from DCA to CAE?
The flight distance from Washington (DCA) to Columbia (CAE) is approximately 408 miles. This route is served by 7 carriers.
When is the best time to fly from DCA to CAE?
The best recent month for on-time performance was Oct 2024 (88% on-time). The worst was Feb 2025 (53% on-time). Consider booking during months with historically better performance.

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Data source

Data Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), On-Time Performance Data. Statistics reflect cumulative performance across all available reporting periods.

Data sourced from U.S. Department of Transportation Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) On-Time Performance data. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainFlights Editorial

Every figure on PlainFlights is rendered directly from BTS On-Time Performance data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page aggregates this specific route's on-time performance and monthly trend, live from the dataset. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.