PlainFlights

Route · DCA → DFW · 2020–2025 BTS data

Washington to Dallas/Fort Worth

According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking (BTS On-Time Performance total flights), DCA to DFW (Washington to Dallas/Fort Worth) ranks #442 of 4927 tracked domestic routes by total flights (most flights = #1).

Data updated 2026-06-13

82%
On-time
+3 pts
vs US avg
92 min
Delay when late
17,803
Flights
#442 of 4927
Corpus placement

Cancelled

2.6%

Best Month

Oct 2024 90%

Worst Month

May 2024 60%

Distance

1,192 mi

Carriers

3

Monthly Performance

Recent 24 months of route data.

Period Flights Delayed Cancelled Diverted Carriers
Dec 2025 274 68 2 0 AA
Nov 2025 264 62 2 1 AA
Oct 2025 279 60 2 0 AA
Sep 2025 270 61 7 0 AA
Aug 2025 274 61 9 7 AA
Jul 2025 277 73 22 1 AA
Jun 2025 274 67 18 1 AA
May 2025 310 83 8 2 AA
Apr 2025 300 62 8 2 AA
Mar 2025 310 59 9 3 AA
Feb 2025 280 36 7 1 AA
Jan 2025 308 57 30 3 AA
Dec 2024 306 46 6 2 AA
Nov 2024 292 36 3 4 AA
Oct 2024 309 30 0 0 AA
Sep 2024 297 32 1 0 AA
Aug 2024 278 76 2 0 AA
Jul 2024 258 76 5 4 AA
Jun 2024 248 64 3 2 AA
May 2024 248 99 14 3 AA
Apr 2024 243 62 4 2 AA
Mar 2024 278 56 6 2 AA
Feb 2024 261 51 0 0 AA
Jan 2024 275 69 9 0 AA

DCA–DFW seasonal on-time pattern

Best: September (86.8%) · weakest: July (77.1%)

75%80%85%90% JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec 83.7%

Strongest calendar month

September

86.8% on-time · ~244 flights/mo

Busiest calendar month

March

~264 flights/mo avg

Weakest calendar month

July

77.1% on-time · ~248 flights/mo

Cancellation Rate

2.6%

177 of 6,713 flights

Diversion Rate

0.6%

40 of 6,713 flights

Explore origin & destination

On-time and delay data for the airports this route connects.

DCA - Washington

Full on-time, delay-cause, and seasonal performance for Washington, DC.

DCA on-time profile

DFW - Dallas/Fort Worth

Full on-time, delay-cause, and seasonal performance for Dallas/Fort Worth, TX.

DFW on-time profile

Compare the two airports

See DCA and DFW side by side on delays, cancellations, and reliability.

Compare DCA vs DFW

Origin-hub reliability standing

Mid-pack among DCA departures

From DCA, this corridor sits with 77 other 75–85% on-time routes out of 91 tracked departures, not the hub's reliability leaders (4 at ≥85%) and not the softest ( 10 below 75%). Destination: Dallas/Fort Worth · fleet on-time rank #2341 of 4927.

What the Data Says About DCA to DFW

Bureau of Transportation Statistics records show Washington to Dallas/Fort Worth (DCA to DFW) running a 82% on-time rate over 17,803 tracked flights, on the stronger end of a typical domestic pairing. When flights do run late, the average delay is 91.9 minutes. The 1,192-mile corridor is served by 3 carriers, and over the last 24 months 2.6% of 6,713 flights were cancelled, 0.6% diverted.

The monthly split is wide on this route: Oct 2024 posted the strongest performance at 90% on-time, while May 2024 came in at just 60% - a 30-point swing worth factoring into travel timing.

On the multi-year calendar, DCA–DFW peaks in September at 86.8% on-time while March carries the heaviest traffic (~264 flights per month) ; the softest month is July at 77.1%, a 9.7-point swing that repeats because the corridor's weather and holiday mix stays stable year to year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does DCA to DFW rank among US routes by traffic? ▼
According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking, DCA to DFW ranks #442 of 4927 tracked domestic routes by total flights (most flights = #1). That ordinal matches our busiest-routes listing (total_flights DESC). See /methodology#corpus-placement for the exact sort basis.
How often are flights delayed from DCA to DFW? ▼
Flights from Washington to Dallas/Fort Worth have a 82% on-time rate based on 17,803 flights. The average delay is 91.9 minutes. The best recent month was Oct 2024 with 90% on-time.
What is the cancellation rate for DCA to DFW? ▼
Over the last 24 months, 2.6% of flights on this route were cancelled (177 of 6,713 flights) and 0.6% were diverted.
How far is the flight from DCA to DFW? ▼
The flight distance from Washington (DCA) to Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) is approximately 1,192 miles. This route is served by 3 carriers.
When is the best time to fly from DCA to DFW? ▼
The best recent month for on-time performance was Oct 2024 (90% on-time). The worst was May 2024 (60% on-time). Consider booking during months with historically better performance.

Airports on this route

DCA Airport

Washington
DFW Airport

Dallas/Fort Worth
Data source

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

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Using DCA–DFW data

DCA–DFW runs 3 pts above the national 79% average; the remaining risk is month-to-month swing and carrier mix, not a weak headline rate.

  • Compare DCA and DFW airport profiles: delay causes and top routes differ even on the same corridor. DCA airport
  • If your dates flex, September (86.8% on-time) beats July (77.1%) on this corridor. Seasonal chart
  • 4 other routes post a similar 82% on-time rate; compare before you commit to this pairing. Similar routes

On-time rate reflects the BTS historical average across all reporting carriers on this origin–destination pair, not any single flight or booking recommendation.

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

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.