Washington (DCA) to Dulles (IAD)
Flight time
≈ 0h 51m
Bearing
286° W
Washington (DCA) to Dulles (IAD) is 23 miles (38 km) as the crow flies — the great-circle baseline most distance-based mileage programs credit.
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What actually flies DCA–IAD
Filed traffic dataIn May 2026, American Airlines operated the most departures, one of 5 carriers flying nonstop DCA–IAD; the Boeing 737-800 was the most common aircraft at 38% of departures; flights ran 54% full.
Departures
8
May 2026
Seats
1,165
both directions
Passengers
628
both directions
Load factor
53.9%
RPM ÷ ASM
Who flies DCA–IAD?
American Airlines operated the most nonstop DCA–IAD departures in May 2026 (4), one of 5 carriers on the route.
- AA
4 departures · 685 seats
Share of departures50.0%77.8%
Load
- DL
1 departures · 189 seats
Share of departures12.5%0.0%
Load
- OH
1 departures · 65 seats
Share of departures12.5%100.0%
Load
- UA
1 departures · 150 seats
Share of departures12.5%20.0%
Load
- YX
1 departures · 76 seats
Share of departures12.5%0.0%
Load
What plane flies DCA–IAD?
In May 2026, the Boeing 737-800 flew 38% of DCA–IAD departures — more than any other aircraft type.
- Boeing 737-800
3 departures · 71.1% load
37.5% - Bombardier CRJ-700
1 departures · 100.0% load
12.5% - Embraer E175
1 departures · 0.0% load
12.5% - Airbus A320
1 departures · 20.0% load
12.5% - Airbus A321
1 departures · 0.0% load
12.5% - Boeing 737 MAX 8
1 departures · 98.2% load
12.5%
How has DCA–IAD traffic changed?
Nonstop DCA–IAD departures fell from 16 in June 2025 to 8 in May 2026.
Monthly nonstop DCA–IAD traffic, trailing 12 months through May 2026. Bars scale to the busiest month; months with no filed service show as zero.
June 2025
16 departures · 1,193 passengers
52.8%
Load
July 2025
19 departures · 1,523 passengers
56.7%
Load
August 2025
8 departures · 584 passengers
44.8%
Load
September 2025
19 departures · 1,102 passengers
42.0%
Load
October 2025
3 departures · 204 passengers
63.0%
Load
November 2025
15 departures · 914 passengers
51.3%
Load
December 2025
7 departures · 313 passengers
43.4%
Load
January 2026
5 departures · 207 passengers
40.3%
Load
February 2026
8 departures · 565 passengers
67.5%
Load
March 2026
12 departures · 757 passengers
54.5%
Load
April 2026
4 departures · 202 passengers
59.8%
Load
May 2026
8 departures · 628 passengers
53.9%
Load
Nonstop DCA–IAD traffic has been filed since 2025.
Source: US DOT BTS Form 41 T-100 Segment (All Carriers). Data through May 2026; filings from 2025. Public domain (US Government work).
The airports
Frequently asked
How far is Washington (DCA) from Dulles (IAD)?
DCA to IAD is 23 miles (38 km / 20 nautical miles) measured great-circle — the shortest path over the surface of the Earth.
How long is the flight from DCA to IAD?
A nonstop covers the 23-mile great-circle distance in roughly 0h 51m of block time, before winds. Actual schedules vary a few percent by direction and aircraft.
What plane flies DCA–IAD?
In May 2026, the Boeing 737-800 flew the largest share of departures (37.5%), followed by the Bombardier CRJ-700 (12.5%).
What mileage do I earn flying DCA–IAD?
Distance-based programs credit off the 23-mile great-circle figure, then apply your fare-class earning rate. Revenue-based programs credit off the fare instead.
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