DCA → LAXWashington to Los Angeles

live

Direct flights from Washington (DCA) to Los Angeles (LAX): 28 nonstop departures observed each week across 3 airlines. 86% of the last 28 tracked flights arrived within 15 minutes of schedule. The median arrival is 26 minutes early. No cancellations were recorded across the 31 tracked flights. The nonstop covers 3,711 km, an estimated 5 hours 15 minutes in the air. Measured by Pro Flight Search from live flight boards at Washington and Los Angeles. Updated 30 October 2026 at 19:18 UTC.

Today, DCA → LAX

Fri 30 Oct · local times
AS5AlaskaIn the air, 21 min late

Left DCA at 09:51, 21 min after its 09:30 slot.

Landing
12:40LAX board estimate · sched 12:09
Track AS5 →
  1. 08:52 AA1966American Est. 14:58Departure not confirmed by the board ·
  2. 09:30 AS5Alaska Left 09:51 +21 LAX est. 12:40 +31In the air · sched 12:09
  3. 16:40 DL392Delta Air Lines Est. 16:40Departure not confirmed by the board ·
  4. 17:35 AA3283American On scheduleT2 ·

Checked DCA board 15:18 · LAX board 10:33

DCA Washington smooth · +8
LAX Los Angeles smooth · +0
3,711 km · ~5h 15m est.
dep bank 08:52–17:3528x weekly
Runs reliable · 3 airlines · 28x weekly · nonstop
86% on time

of the last 28 tracked DCA → LAX flights arrived within 15 minutes

Median arrival delay is −26 min. 0 of 31 tracked legs cancelled in the sample. Will a delayed flight be cancelled? →

Median arrival−26 minacross the last 28 arrivals
Flight time~5h 15mestimated from route distance
Weekly departures28x3 direct airlines on the leg
Cancelled0.0%recent route rate · 0 of 31

The week

scheduled departures · origin local time
06121824
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
Alaska AirlinesAmerican AirlinesDelta Air Lines

Each mark is a scheduled departure at its origin-local time, observed operating in the last 7 days. Today is highlighted.

Who flies it

observed on the boards · 7 days
Alaska AirlinesAS100% on time

Flights AS5 09:30 daily

American AirlinesAA85% on time

Flights AA1966 08:52 daily · AA3283 17:35 daily

Delta Air LinesDL71% on time

Flights DL392 16:40 daily

History

operated legs · board outcomes
10-30AS5departed+21
10-29AA1966dep +28 → arr−26
10-29AA3283dep +67 → arr+33
10-29AS5dep +8 → arr−28
10-29DL392dep +16 → arr−10
10-28AA1966dep +25 → arr−42
10-28AA3283dep +30 → arr−12
10-28AS5dep +18 → arr−16
10-28DL392dep +17 → arr−20
10-27AA1966dep +1 → arr−13
10-27AA3283dep +35 → arr−13
10-27AC783arrived−39
10-27AS5dep +62 → arr−33
10-27DL392dep +9 → arr−17
10-26AA1966dep +73 → arr+20
10-26AA3283dep +30 → arr−16
10-26AS5dep +25 → arr−9
10-26DL392dep +79 → arr+38
10-25AA1966dep +19 → arr−39
10-25AA3283departed+22
10-25AS5dep +10 → arr−36
10-25DL392dep +16 → arr−34
10-24AA1966dep +16 → arr−51
10-24AA3283dep +26 → arr−28
10-24AS5dep +10 → arr−33
10-24DL392dep +13 → arr−35
10-23AA1966dep +40 → arr−26
10-23AA283departed+12
10-23AA3283dep +28 → arr−26
10-23AS5dep +14 → arr−36
10-23DL392dep +206 → arr+170

Actual board outcomes rather than schedules, paired departure and arrival per flight and day.

Full board history, day by day →

Airports right now

live boards
DCAWashington +8 min smooth 🌤 few clouds · NW 13 kt Full DCA delay board →
LAXLos Angeles +0 min smooth ⛅ mostly cloudy · W 8 kt Full LAX delay board →

Weather lens

Conditions are tightest at DCA: a 36% chance of a 15+ minute delay. In this weather, the more delayed of the two airports is typically about +5 min. Both figures come from the two airports' delay records in similar weather. See live delays → · Weather risk by airport →

How the Washington to Los Angeles route actually runs

Pro Flight Search records official board updates for nonstop DCA to LAX flights through the day: schedules, estimates, gate pushes and actual departures. The verdict above comes from operated flights, so it reflects what this route does rather than what the timetable promises.

Planning around a delay? Live airport delays · Weather delay risk map · Will a delayed flight be cancelled? · Do planes make up time in the air? · How we measure

Cite this data

Journalists, bloggers, and researchers may cite this page with attribution and a link to Pro Flight Search.

Suggested citation

Pro Flight Search: Washington (DCA) to Los Angeles (LAX) route reliability, measured from operated flights on official airport boards.

Canonical URL
https://proflightsearch.com/search-flights/DCA-LAX
How we measure this →

DCA to LAX questions

Is DCA–LAX running on time right now?

Smooth skies ahead. The departure side at DCA is the weaker end, route health score 94/100. The airports section above carries the live status and delay window at both ends.

Morning or evening flight on DCA–LAX?

Operators schedule morning departures around 08:52 and evening departures around 17:35 from DCA. Earlier flights typically land before destination-airport delays accumulate later in the day; check the LAX delay card to confirm conditions when you'd arrive.

How long is the flight from DCA to LAX?

Great-circle distance is 3,711 km. With typical jet cruise speed plus taxi, climb and descent, expect roughly 292–348 min gate-to-gate on this route.

How often does DCA–LAX fly?

3 carriers operate this route, around 28 flights a week between them. Compare carrier days and times in the airline list above.