Best Time to Fly DCA to IAH: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Ronald Reagan Washington National → George Bush Intercontinental/Houston
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
Over the last 12 months, 80.9% of Washington (DCA) to Houston (IAH) flights arrived on time (3,277 scheduled flights). That is 3.3 points above the national average of 77.6%.
Among 3 airlines, United Airlines led with 83.9% on time and PSA Airlines was last with 67.1%.
Over 24 months, Saturday was the most reliable day (87% on time) and June the worst month (70%).
The cancellation rate was 2.1% (US average 1.8%).
DCA to IAH on-time performance by airline
Last 12 months. Airlines with fewer than 30 completed flights are marked “limited data”.
| Airline | On time | Avg delay when late | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlines | 83.9% | 86 min | 0.8% | 2,406 |
| Republic Airways | 75.7% | 56 min | 5.1% | 511 |
| PSA Airlines | 67.1% | 78 min | 6.1% | 360 |
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly DCA to IAH
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 5,532 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6am–7am | 90.3% | 2.5% | 830 |
| 7am–8am | 89.6% | 4.0% | 50 |
| 8am–9am | 90.6% | 2.1% | 716 |
| 9am–10am | Limited data | 4 | |
| 10am–11am | 77.5% | 0.0% | 71 |
| 11am–12pm | 92.0% | 1.1% | 656 |
| 12pm–1pm | 88.0% | 1.0% | 720 |
| 1pm–2pm | 68.6% | 4.9% | 243 |
| 2pm–3pm | 78.1% | 1.2% | 651 |
| 3pm–4pm | Limited data | 22 | |
| 4pm–5pm | 62.9% | 1.0% | 690 |
| 7pm–8pm | 74.1% | 2.8% | 748 |
| 8pm–9pm | 72.3% | 7.6% | 131 |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on DCA to IAH
On-time arrivals during holiday periods compared with all other days, last 24 months.
| Period | On time | vs other days | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving week (Tue before to Mon after) | 78.2% | -4.8 pts | 0.0% | 101 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 90.6% | +7.6 pts | 0.0% | 172 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 73.5% | -9.6 pts | 2.8% | 927 |
| All other days | 83.0% | — | 1.9% | 4,332 |
Monthly on-time trend
On-time arrival % each month, with the 12-month US average for reference.
What causes delays on this route
Share of reported delay minutes, last 12 months (BTS cause categories).