Best Time to Fly HOU to DCA: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
William P Hobby → Ronald Reagan Washington National
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
Over the last 12 months, 70.0% of Houston (HOU) to Washington (DCA) flights arrived on time (1,052 scheduled flights). That is 7.7 points below the national average of 77.6%.
Southwest Airlines was the only reporting airline with regular flights on this route.
Over 24 months, Tuesday was the most reliable day (76% on time) and February the worst month (59%).
The cancellation rate was 1.7% (US average 1.8%).
HOU to DCA 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Airlines | 70.0% | 54 min | 1.7% | 1,052 |
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly HOU to DCA
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 2,099 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5am–6am | Limited data | 5 | |
| 6am–7am | Limited data | 6 | |
| 7am–8am | 93.5% | 0.5% | 217 |
| 8am–9am | 90.7% | 1.1% | 448 |
| 9am–10am | Limited data | 14 | |
| 10am–11am | 89.7% | 0.0% | 58 |
| 11am–12pm | 70.0% | 0.6% | 173 |
| 12pm–1pm | 60.1% | 1.2% | 320 |
| 1pm–2pm | Limited data | 24 | |
| 2pm–3pm | 61.4% | 3.3% | 120 |
| 3pm–4pm | Limited data | 16 | |
| 4pm–5pm | Limited data | 12 | |
| 5pm–6pm | 56.8% | 0.0% | 74 |
| 6pm–7pm | 66.2% | 1.7% | 300 |
| 7pm–8pm | 52.8% | 1.4% | 289 |
| 8pm–9pm | Limited data | 23 | |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on HOU to DCA
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) | 85.0% | +12.6 pts | 0.0% | 40 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 75.6% | +3.2 pts | 0.0% | 90 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 68.0% | -4.4 pts | 2.5% | 364 |
| All other days | 72.4% | — | 1.2% | 1,605 |
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).