PlainFlights

Route · DCA → PNS · 2020–2025 BTS data

Washington to Pensacola

According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking (BTS On-Time Performance total flights), DCA to PNS (Washington to Pensacola) ranks #2789 of 4927 tracked domestic routes by total flights (most flights = #1).

Data updated 2026-06-13

74%
On-time
-5 pts
vs US avg
81 min
Delay when late
4,268
Flights
#2789 of 4927
Corpus placement

Cancelled

3.3%

Best Month

Feb 2024 90%

Worst Month

Feb 2025 54%

Distance

816 mi

Carriers

12

Monthly Performance

Recent 24 months of route data.

Period Flights Delayed Cancelled Diverted Carriers
Dec 2025 88 28 5 3 YX,OH
Nov 2025 84 25 2 2 OH
Oct 2025 93 20 0 0 OH,YX,MQ
Sep 2025 90 19 1 0 MQ,OH,YX
Aug 2025 93 22 3 0 YX,MQ,OH
Jul 2025 92 27 9 0 OH,YX,MQ
Jun 2025 85 29 5 0 OH,YX,MQ
May 2025 62 21 3 0 OH
Apr 2025 60 21 0 0 OH,YX
Mar 2025 62 18 2 0 OH,YX
Feb 2025 56 26 7 0 OH,YX
Jan 2025 68 14 13 0 OH
Dec 2024 72 18 1 0 OH
Nov 2024 59 9 0 0 OH
Oct 2024 62 18 0 0 YX,OH
Sep 2024 60 22 1 0 YX,OH,MQ
Aug 2024 67 28 1 1 MQ,OH
Jul 2024 92 30 6 0 OH
Jun 2024 90 30 0 0 OH
May 2024 93 32 0 0 OH
Apr 2024 90 20 0 0 AA,OH
Mar 2024 93 22 0 0 AA,OH
Feb 2024 73 7 0 0 OH
Jan 2024 62 21 2 0 OH

DCA–PNS seasonal on-time pattern

Best: March (80.0%) · weakest: July (67.9%)

65%70%75%80%85% JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec 72.6%

Strongest calendar month

March

80.0% on-time · ~65 flights/mo

Busiest calendar month

June

~71 flights/mo avg

Weakest calendar month

July

67.9% on-time · ~71 flights/mo

Cancellation Rate

3.3%

61 of 1,846 flights

Diversion Rate

0.3%

6 of 1,846 flights

Origin-hub reliability standing

Softer reliability from DCA

Among 91 routes leaving DCA, only 10 (including this one) clear below 75% on-time, while 4 stay ≥85% and 77 sit mid-band. Travelers comparing DCA options should weigh this 74% print against those peers · fleet on-time rank #4599 of 4927.

What the Data Says About DCA to PNS

On-time performance on the DCA to PNS pairing (Washington to Pensacola) trails a chunk of the network: 74% of 4,268 tracked flights arrived on schedule, with a 81.0-minute average delay on the ones that ran late. The route spans about 816 miles across 12 carriers. Cancellations over the trailing 24 months hit 3.3% (61 of 1,846 flights), with 0.3% diverted.

The monthly split is wide on this route: Feb 2024 posted the strongest performance at 90% on-time, while Feb 2025 came in at just 54% - a 37-point swing worth factoring into travel timing.

On the multi-year calendar, DCA–PNS peaks in March at 80.0% on-time while June carries the heaviest traffic (~71 flights per month) ; the softest month is July at 67.9%, a 12.1-point swing that repeats because the corridor's weather and holiday mix stays stable year to year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does DCA to PNS rank among US routes by traffic?
According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking, DCA to PNS ranks #2789 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 PNS?
Flights from Washington to Pensacola have a 74% on-time rate based on 4,268 flights. The average delay is 81.0 minutes. The best recent month was Feb 2024 with 90% on-time.
What is the cancellation rate for DCA to PNS?
Over the last 24 months, 3.3% of flights on this route were cancelled (61 of 1,846 flights) and 0.3% were diverted.
How far is the flight from DCA to PNS?
The flight distance from Washington (DCA) to Pensacola (PNS) is approximately 816 miles. This route is served by 12 carriers.
When is the best time to fly from DCA to PNS?
The best recent month for on-time performance was Feb 2024 (90% on-time). The worst was Feb 2025 (54% on-time). Consider booking during months with historically better performance.

Airports on this route

Data source

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

Using DCA–PNS data

DCA–PNS sits 5 pts below the national 79% average; check the seasonal chart and airport profiles before treating the headline as typical.

  • Compare DCA and PNS airport profiles: delay causes and top routes differ even on the same corridor. DCA airport
  • If your dates flex, March (80.0% on-time) beats July (67.9%) on this corridor. Seasonal chart
  • 4 other routes post a similar 74% 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.