DCA → LAXWashington to Los Angeles

live

Direct flights from Washington (DCA) to Los Angeles (LAX): 21 nonstop departures observed each week across 3 airlines. 93% of the last 15 operated flights arrived within 15 minutes of schedule. The median arrival is 31 minutes early. No cancellations were recorded across the 15 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 8 September 2026 at 19:18 UTC.

DCA Washington busy · +18
LAX Los Angeles smooth · +0
3,711 km · ~5h 15m est.
dep bank 09:00–17:3521x weekly
Runs reliable · 3 airlines · 21x weekly · nonstop
93% on time

of the last 15 operated DCA → LAX flights arrived within 15 minutes

Median arrival delay is −31 min. 0 of 15 tracked legs cancelled in the sample. Will a delayed flight be cancelled? →

Median arrival−31 minacross the last 15 operated legs
Flight time~5h 15mestimated from route distance
Weekly departures21x3 direct airlines on the leg
Cancelled0.0%recent route rate · 0 of 15

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 AirlinesAS

Flights AS5 09:30 daily

American AirlinesAA88% on time

Flights AA1966 09:00 daily · AA3283 17:35 daily

Delta Air LinesDL

Flights DL392 16:45 daily

History

operated legs · board outcomes
09-08AA1966dep +20 → arr−55
09-08AS5dep +42 → arr−46
09-07AA1966dep +21 → arr−32
09-07AA3283departed+15
09-07AS5dep +4 → arr−44
09-07DL392dep +13 → arr−37
09-06AA1966dep +20 → arr−22
09-06AA3283dep +13 → arr−31
09-06AS5dep +9 → arr−33
09-06DL392dep +12 → arr−35
09-05AA1966dep +39 → arr−3
09-05AA3283dep +14 → arr−28
09-05AS5dep +31 → arr+2
09-05DL392dep +16 → arr−14
09-04AA1966departed+19

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 +18 min busy 🌤 scattered clouds · 4 kt Full DCA delay board →
LAXLos Angeles +0 min smooth 🌤 mostly cloudy · N 0 kt Full LAX delay board →

Weather lens

Current conditions put the pressure at DCA: 44% odds of a 15+ minute delay and around +14 min expected when it bites, measured from this route's own weather-matched delay history. 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 88/100. 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 09:00 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.