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Route · DCA → LAX · 2020–2025 BTS data

Washington to Los Angeles

The DCA–LAX corridor (Washington, DC → Los Angeles, CA) runs ahead of the national average, served by 6 carriers across roughly 2,311 miles.

Data updated 2026-06-13

82.8%
On-time
+3.8 pts
vs US avg
81 min
Delay when late
8,288
Flights

Cancelled

0.9%

Best Month

Oct 2024 92%

Worst Month

Jul 2025 57%

Distance

2,311 mi

Carriers

6

Monthly Performance

Recent 24 months of route data.

Period Flights Delayed Cancelled Diverted Carriers
Dec 2025 123 34 1 2 DL,AS,AA
Nov 2025 118 26 1 1 AA,AS,DL
Oct 2025 124 28 0 0 AA,AS,DL
Sep 2025 120 34 0 0 DL,AA,AS
Aug 2025 124 26 2 0 AA,AS,DL
Jul 2025 124 53 1 1 AA,AS,DL
Jun 2025 120 41 2 2 AA,AS,DL
May 2025 124 33 1 0 AA,AS,DL
Apr 2025 120 24 0 0 AA,AS,DL
Mar 2025 124 21 1 1 AA,AS,DL
Feb 2025 112 30 1 0 AA,AS,DL
Jan 2025 124 28 7 0 AA,AS,DL
Dec 2024 123 16 0 0 AA,AS,DL
Nov 2024 118 18 0 0 AS,DL,AA
Oct 2024 124 10 0 0 AS,DL,AA
Sep 2024 119 14 1 0 AA,AS,DL
Aug 2024 124 27 1 0 AA,AS,DL
Jul 2024 124 35 3 4 AA,AS,DL
Jun 2024 120 20 1 4 AA,AS,DL
May 2024 124 45 1 0 AA,AS,DL
Apr 2024 120 21 0 0 AA,AS,DL
Mar 2024 124 27 1 1 AA,AS,DL
Feb 2024 116 15 0 2 AA,AS,DL
Jan 2024 124 27 2 1 AA,AS,DL

Cancellation Rate

0.9%

27 of 2,917 flights

Diversion Rate

0.7%

19 of 2,917 flights

What the Data Says About DCA to LAX

Bureau of Transportation Statistics records show Washington to Los Angeles (DCA to LAX) running a 82.8% on-time rate over 8,288 tracked flights, on the stronger end of a typical domestic pairing. When flights do run late, the average delay is 81.1 minutes. The 2,311-mile corridor is served by 6 carriers, and over the last 24 months 0.9% of 2,917 flights were cancelled, 0.7% diverted.

The monthly split is wide on this route: Oct 2024 posted the strongest performance at 92% on-time, while Jul 2025 came in at just 57% - a 35-point swing worth factoring into travel timing.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often are flights delayed from DCA to LAX?
Flights from Washington to Los Angeles have a 82.8% on-time rate based on 8,288 flights. The average delay is 81.1 minutes. The best recent month was Oct 2024 with 92% on-time.
What is the cancellation rate for DCA to LAX?
Over the last 24 months, 0.9% of flights on this route were cancelled (27 of 2,917 flights) and 0.7% were diverted.
How far is the flight from DCA to LAX?
The flight distance from Washington (DCA) to Los Angeles (LAX) is approximately 2,311 miles. This route is served by 6 carriers.
When is the best time to fly from DCA to LAX?
The best recent month for on-time performance was Oct 2024 (92% on-time). The worst was Jul 2025 (57% 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.