Route · DTW → DCA · 2020–2025 BTS data
Detroit to Washington
The DTW–DCA corridor (Detroit, MI → Washington, DC) runs ahead of the national average, served by 26 carriers across roughly 405 miles.
Data updated 2026-06-13
- 82.7%
- On-time
- +3.7 pts
- vs US avg
- 80 min
- Delay when late
- 14,879
- Flights
Cancelled
2.2%
Best Month
Feb 2024 91%
Worst Month
Feb 2025 59%
Distance
405 mi
Carriers
26
Monthly Performance
Recent 24 months of route data.
| Period | Flights | Delayed | Cancelled | Diverted | Carriers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2025 | 238 | 87 | 10 | 0 | DL,OH |
| Nov 2025 | 253 | 103 | 7 | 0 | DL,OH,AA |
| Oct 2025 | 258 | 48 | 0 | 0 | DL,OH,YX |
| Sep 2025 | 247 | 41 | 0 | 3 | MQ,OH,DL,YX |
| Aug 2025 | 233 | 48 | 4 | 1 | OH,DL |
| Jul 2025 | 239 | 84 | 21 | 2 | DL,OH |
| Jun 2025 | 227 | 74 | 11 | 2 | DL,OH |
| May 2025 | 238 | 72 | 4 | 1 | DL,OH |
| Apr 2025 | 223 | 46 | 2 | 0 | DL,OH,YX |
| Mar 2025 | 227 | 49 | 1 | 1 | DL,OH,YX |
| Feb 2025 | 210 | 86 | 9 | 3 | DL,OH,YX |
| Jan 2025 | 227 | 58 | 14 | 1 | DL,OH,YX |
| Dec 2024 | 221 | 64 | 1 | 1 | DL,OH,YX |
| Nov 2024 | 220 | 29 | 0 | 1 | YX,DL,OH |
| Oct 2024 | 230 | 27 | 0 | 0 | MQ,DL,OH |
| Sep 2024 | 227 | 36 | 1 | 0 | YX,OH,DL,MQ |
| Aug 2024 | 229 | 56 | 7 | 1 | DL,YX,OH |
| Jul 2024 | 230 | 69 | 17 | 3 | DL,OH,YX |
| Jun 2024 | 220 | 45 | 2 | 1 | DL,OH,YX |
| May 2024 | 233 | 58 | 0 | 0 | DL,OH,YX |
| Apr 2024 | 227 | 37 | 0 | 0 | DL,OH,OO,YX |
| Mar 2024 | 229 | 36 | 0 | 0 | 9E,DL,OH,YX |
| Feb 2024 | 216 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 9E,DL,OH,YX |
| Jan 2024 | 222 | 67 | 10 | 1 | 9E,DL,MQ,YX,OH |
Cancellation Rate
2.2%
121 of 5,524 flights
Diversion Rate
0.4%
22 of 5,524 flights
Explore origin & destination
On-time and delay data for the airports this route connects.
DTW - Detroit
Full on-time, delay-cause, and seasonal performance for Detroit, MI.
Origin airport →DCA - Washington
Full on-time, delay-cause, and seasonal performance for Washington, DC.
Destination airport →Compare the two airports
See DTW and DCA side by side on delays, cancellations, and reliability.
Open comparison tool →Similar routes
Other BTS-tracked routes with comparable performance or trip length to DTW–DCA.
Routes with a similar on-time rate
What the Data Says About DTW to DCA
Bureau of Transportation Statistics records show Detroit to Washington (DTW to DCA) running a 82.7% on-time rate over 14,879 tracked flights, on the stronger end of a typical domestic pairing. When flights do run late, the average delay is 80.2 minutes. The 405-mile corridor is served by 26 carriers, and over the last 24 months 2.2% of 5,524 flights were cancelled, 0.4% diverted.
The monthly split is wide on this route: Feb 2024 posted the strongest performance at 91% on-time, while Feb 2025 came in at just 59% - a 32-point swing worth factoring into travel timing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often are flights delayed from DTW to DCA? ▼
What is the cancellation rate for DTW to DCA? ▼
How far is the flight from DTW to DCA? ▼
When is the best time to fly from DTW to DCA? ▼
Flight Guides
Tips and data-driven advice for choosing reliable routes.
Explore PlainFlights
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.
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.