Back to home
DCA

DCA Arrivals & Departures

Live flight status, arrivals, departures and airport information for Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington, United States.

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) is a major international airport serving Washington, United States. The airport connects the region to destinations across the globe on a busy schedule of daily arrivals and departures. Monitor real-time DCA arrivals, departures, and delays on this live airport board, powered by ADS-B transponder feeds that update continuously and display each aircraft's altitude, speed, and status with the freshest available data. Bookmark this page for instant access to DCA live arrivals, departures, and delay information whenever you need it.

Current FAA Status

FAA Delay History

Delay history will appear here as new FAA status changes are detected for this airport.

About Washington Airport Delays

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) delay status is monitored in real time using FAA National Airspace System (NAS) data. FAA delay advisories at DCA include Ground Delay Programs (GDPs), Ground Stops (GS), Arrival and Departure Delay Advisories, and Airport Closures. These are system-wide restrictions issued by the FAA and affect all airlines and flights operating at the airport. Data refreshes automatically every 5 minutes.

Ground Delay Program (GDP)
Holds inbound flights at their origin airports when the destination airport has reduced arrival capacity. Flights are assigned controlled departure times.
Ground Stop (GS)
Immediately halts all departures heading to the airport until conditions improve. Usually shorter in duration than a GDP.
Arrival Delay Advisory
Inbound flights are experiencing extended FAA-reported arrival delays, typically 15 minutes or more.
Departure Delay Advisory
Departing flights are experiencing extended FAA-reported departure delays, typically 15 minutes or more.

FAA Abbreviation Reference

AP CLSD=Airport ClosedGDP=Ground Delay ProgramGS=Ground StopWX=WeatherATC=Air Traffic ControlRWY=RunwayVOL=Volume / Traffic CongestionGA ACFT=General Aviation AircraftPPR=Prior Permission RequiredTMI=Traffic Management Initiative

Washington (DCA) Airport Delays — FAQ

What does an active FAA delay mean at DCA?

An active FAA delay at DCA means the FAA has issued an advisory — such as a Ground Stop, Ground Delay Program, or Arrival/Departure Delay — affecting flights operating at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. It is a system-wide restriction, not specific to one airline.

What is a Ground Delay Program at DCA?

A Ground Delay Program at DCA means inbound flights are being held at their departure airports and given controlled release times. This absorbs delay on the ground rather than in the air, saving fuel and improving safety. GDPs typically last several hours.

What is a Ground Stop at DCA?

A Ground Stop at DCA temporarily halts all departures heading to Washington. Flights already en route are generally allowed to continue. Ground Stops are usually shorter in duration than Ground Delay Programs and are issued when conditions change rapidly.

How often is DCA FAA delay data updated?

FAA delay status for DCA on FlightStatus.flights refreshes every 5 minutes from official FAA NAS data. The Delay History section above shows all status changes detected in the past 24 hours.

Are FAA airport delays the same as individual flight delays at DCA?

No. FAA airport delays are system-wide advisories issued by the FAA affecting all flights at DCA. Individual flight delays may also be caused by airline-specific issues such as late-arriving aircraft, crew availability, or mechanical problems. Both can occur simultaneously.

Related resources