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Tell FlyerIntel where and when you are flying. It will show how that route actually performs at that time of day and on that day of the week, what both airports are doing right now, and when to get to the airport.

DCA → IAH

Washington to Houston · departing 8:30 AM

Route on-time rate
81.9%
7,839 flights analyzed
At 5–9 AM
90.1%
2,132 flights in this window
Cancellation rate
1.98%
Share of scheduled flights

DCA → IAH flights departing 5–9 AM arrive on time 90.1% of the time, against 81.9% across the whole day — your departure window is 8.2 points better than average for this route.

There is no day-by-hour view for DCA → IAH: only 40 of its weekday-and-hour slots have 120 or more flights, and a day-by-hour view needs 45.

Other times on DCA → IAH

Time of day

5–9 AM is among the most reliable times to leave on DCA → IAH: 90.1% on time.

  • 5–9 AM90.1%BestYour time
  • 9 AM–12 PM90.0%
  • 12–3 PM81.5%
  • 3–6 PM66.4%
  • 6–9 PM74.8%
  • 9 PM–5 AMToo few flights to score

Day of week

  • Monday80.4%
  • Tuesday84.6%
  • Wednesday82.8%
  • Thursday80.4%
  • Friday79.5%
  • Saturday86.5%Best
  • Sunday80.9%

Bars start below the lowest figure so a real gap is visible; read the percentage, not the bar length. A time with too few flights to score is left unscored rather than guessed at.

Source: FlyerIntel analysis of US DOT BTS data · July 2023 – July 2026 · History describes what has happened on this route. It is not a prediction about your flight. Full route profile →

Which flight

Flights on DCA → IAH, the ones scheduled closest to 8:30 AM first.

Flights on DCA → IAH and their records
FlightUsually departsOn timeCancelled
UA697United AirlinesLive map8:20 AM10 min away90.6%2.26%
UA2190United AirlinesLive map10:58 AM148 min away85.5%0.60%
UA1450United AirlinesLive map6:00 AM150 min away93.1%1.88%
UA382United AirlinesLive map12:40 PM250 min away88.2%0.70%
UA1381United AirlinesLive map2:45 PM375 min away78.1%0.69%
UA1785United AirlinesLive map4:34 PM484 min away65.2%0.68%

Source: FlyerIntel analysis of US DOT BTS data · July 2023 – July 2026 · “Usually departs” is the scheduled time each flight number most often had over the period; airlines retime flights, so confirm the time on your booking. Flight numbers with fewer than 90 operations on this route are left out. This is history, not a forecast for your flight.

When to get to the airport

A starting point for DCA, not a promise about your day.

Recommended arrival
5:40 AM – 6:10 AM

2h 20m before your 8:30 AM departure

How this was worked out

Standard domestic guidancePublished guidance · US airlines and the TSA commonly recommend arriving two hours before a domestic departure.+120 min
Peak departure hourFlyerIntel data · Your departure hour is among the busiest at DCA, so check-in, bag drop and security all queue at once.+20 min
What this does not include.
  • FlyerIntel cannot currently obtain live security wait times for DCA, so this figure does not account for the queue on the day.
  • It does not include your journey to the airport, parking, or a shuttle from a remote lot.
  • International departures, and travel with children, checked pets or special assistance, need more time.

Both airports right now

Departing · DCANo disruption reported

Aviation weather is not currently a factor.

Aviation weatherVFR
47°F · wind 10 kt

Minimal operational impact. Conditions are not a notable factor for operations right now.

Updated

Washington airport profile →

Arriving · IAHNo disruption reported

Aviation weather is not currently a factor.

Aviation weatherVFR
52°F · wind 5 kt

Minimal operational impact. Conditions are not a notable factor for operations right now.

Updated

Houston airport profile →

Source: NOAA Aviation Weather Center · Conditions describe the airfield, not your flight, and change quickly.

Other ways to make this journey

Airport pairings serving Washington to Houston.

Other ways to make this journey
RouteOn timeCancelledScore
DCA→IAH Washington to Houston your route81.9%1.98%64
IAD→IAH Washington to Houston81.0%0.82%73
BWI→HOU Baltimore to Houston74.0%1.30%62
BWI→IAH Baltimore to Houston79.6%1.60%65
DCA→HOU Washington to Houston77.1%1.74%62

Who flies this route

Performance by the carrier that actually operates the flight.

Who flies this route
CarrierFlightsOn timeCancelledMedian delay
United Airlines6,89583.1%1.54%-11 min
Republic Airways51175.7%5.09%-9 min
PSA Airlines36067.1%6.11%-2 min