66% of flights from Houston to Washington arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is worse than the typical U.S. route. The 8 a.m. departures ran on time 86% of the time; the 6 p.m. ones 51%. 11% 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 HOU → DCA: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 57% of the time. About 1 in 13 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 75 three hours or more; 1.8% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early66%
- 15–30 min late12%
- 30–60 min late12%
- 1–2 hours late5.4%
- 2–3 hours late1.0%
- 3+ hours late1.3%
- Diverted1.0%
- Cancelled1.8%
Share of all 1,052 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Airlines | 1,052 | 66% | 1.8% | +1 min | 7.8% | +54 min | Southwest Airlines |
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 HOU). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
Last flight of the day
On HOU → DCA, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 1.7% of the time, against 1.9% for its earlier flights, about the same. It arrived 3+ hours late 1.7% of the time (earlier flights: 1.2%). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Airlines | 6:35 p.m. | 1.7% | 1.7% | 1.9% | first flight 8:15 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.
By month
Each calendar month pooled over 2023–2026. Best: September (83%). Worst: July (66%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 159 | 66% | 0.6% |
| Tuesday | 156 | 71% | 1.9% |
| Wednesday | 156 | 70% | 0.0% |
| Thursday | 155 | 65% | 0.7% |
| Friday | 155 | 63% | 2.6% |
| Saturday | 115 | 69% | 0.9% |
| Sunday | 156 | 61% | 5.8% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: weather 10 · air traffic/airport 6 · airline 3
Month by month
Not enough months with data to draw a trend.
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 27, 2025 | 3 | 0% | 0 |
| Oct 20, 2025 | 3 | 0% | 0 |
| Jan 26, 2026 | 3 | 0% | 0 |
| Oct 13, 2025 | 3 | 0% | 0 |
| Aug 20, 2026 | 3 | 0% | 0 |
Nearby airport alternatives
Other ways to make the same trip, using airports within 60 miles of Houston or Washington. IAH → IAD has been 16 points more reliable.
| Route | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| HOU → DCA (this route) | 1,052 | 66% | 1.8% |
| IAH → IAD Houston Bush Intercontinental to Washington Dulles | 1,860 | 82% | 0.4% |
| IAH → BWI Houston Bush Intercontinental to Baltimore/Washington | 1,368 | 76% | 2.1% |
| HOU → BWI Houston Hobby to Baltimore/Washington | 1,482 | 74% | 1.4% |
| IAH → DCA Houston Bush Intercontinental to Washington Reagan National | 3,355 | 73% | 2.3% |
Questions
How often are flights from HOU to DCA on time?
66% of 1,052 scheduled flights from Houston, TX to Washington, DC arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 1.8% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly HOU to DCA?
Flights scheduled to leave at 8 a.m. were the most reliable (86% on time). The 6 p.m. departures were the least (51%).
What month has the most delays from HOU to DCA?
July (66% on time). The best month is September (83%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from HOU to DCA more likely to be cancelled?
Not much. Each airline's last HOU–DCA flight of the day was cancelled 1.7% of the time over the past year, against 1.9% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- DCA → HOU (return)
- Houston Hobby (HOU) delays by hour
- Flights into Washington Reagan National (DCA)
- Southwest 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.