68% of flights from Columbia to Washington arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is worse than the typical U.S. route. The 6 a.m. departures ran on time 88% of the time; the 6 p.m. ones 42%. 17% of flights arrived more than an hour late or not at all.
How late?
The on-time rate treats a flight 20 minutes late the same as one 5 hours late. Here's the split for CAE → DCA: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 44% of the time. About 1 in 9 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 33 three hours or more; 5.5% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early68%
- 15–30 min late6.4%
- 30–60 min late8.7%
- 1–2 hours late5.7%
- 2–3 hours late1.9%
- 3+ hours late3.0%
- Diverted0.5%
- Cancelled5.5%
Share of all 1,093 scheduled flights, past 12 months, by arrival time against schedule.
By airline
| Airline | Flights | On time | Cancelled | Typical arrival | 1h+ late | Avg when late | Operated by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | 1,093 | 68% | 5.5% | −9 min | 10.6% | +107 min | PSA Airlines 85%, Republic Airways 11%, Envoy 4% |
Airline = the name on the ticket. Regional flights (e.g. "Delta Connection") count under the ticketing airline, and the operator is listed.
Best time of day to fly
On-time rate by scheduled departure hour (local time at CAE). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
Last flight of the day
On CAE → DCA, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 10.5% of the time, against 3.0% for its earlier flights (3.5× as often). It arrived 3+ hours late 3.9% of the time (earlier flights: 2.6%). It matters more than the numbers suggest. Miss an earlier flight and there's another one that evening; miss the last one and you're usually waiting until morning.
| Airline | Last departure | Last: cancelled | Last: 3h+ late | Earlier: cancelled | Next morning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | 6:48 p.m. | 10.5% | 3.9% | 3.0% | first flight 6:00 a.m. |
Last flight = the airline's last scheduled departure on this route that day, on days it flies the route at least twice; past 12 months. Times are typical scheduled times over the latest three months.
If you need to be in DCA tonight, book an earlier flight so there's a backup if it's cancelled.
By month
Each calendar month pooled over 2023–2026. Best: October (80%). Worst: July (56%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 168 | 68% | 7.1% |
| Tuesday | 164 | 67% | 7.3% |
| Wednesday | 163 | 74% | 2.5% |
| Thursday | 161 | 68% | 5.0% |
| Friday | 163 | 61% | 4.3% |
| Saturday | 110 | 73% | 6.4% |
| Sunday | 164 | 68% | 6.1% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: weather 47 · air traffic/airport 10 · airline 2 · security 1
Month by month
Flight numbers on this route
Regular flights with at least 120 scheduled trips in the past year. Sorted by departure time.
| Flight | Departs | Flights | On time | Cancelled | Typical arrival | Operated by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AA 5603 | 6:00 a.m. | 258 | 83% | 4.7% | −17 min | PSA Airlines |
| AA 5095 | 7:26 p.m. | 188 | 49% | 11.7% | +8 min | PSA Airlines |
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 30, 2026 | 3 | 0% | 0 |
| Mar 3, 2026 | 3 | 0% | 3 |
| Jan 27, 2026 | 3 | 0% | 2 |
| Dec 5, 2025 | 3 | 0% | 0 |
| Feb 12, 2026 | 3 | 0% | 0 |
Nearby airport alternatives
Other ways to make the same trip, using airports within 60 miles of Columbia or Washington. CAE → IAD has been 12 points more reliable.
| Route | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAE → DCA (this route) | 1,093 | 68% | 5.5% |
| CAE → IAD Columbia Metropolitan to Washington Dulles | 908 | 80% | 2.0% |
Questions
How often are flights from CAE to DCA on time?
68% of 1,093 scheduled flights from Columbia, SC to Washington, DC arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 5.5% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly CAE to DCA?
Flights scheduled to leave at 6 a.m. were the most reliable (88% on time). The 6 p.m. departures were the least (42%).
What month has the most delays from CAE to DCA?
July (56% on time). The best month is October (80%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from CAE to DCA more likely to be cancelled?
Yes. Each airline's last CAE–DCA flight of the day was cancelled 10.5% of the time over the past year, against 3.0% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- DCA → CAE (return)
- Columbia Metropolitan (CAE) delays by hour
- Flights into Washington Reagan National (DCA)
- American Airlines on-time record
- Connecting off this flight? Check the risk
Domestic flights by the airlines that report to the U.S. DOT, plus their regional partners. "On time" means arriving less than 15 minutes after schedule; cancelled and diverted flights count as not on time. Past performance is a guide, not a forecast. Method.