Best Time to Fly ATL to DCA: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International → Ronald Reagan Washington National
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
Over the last 12 months, 69.8% of Atlanta (ATL) to Washington (DCA) flights arrived on time (6,800 scheduled flights). That is 7.9 points below the national average of 77.6%.
Among 6 airlines, American Airlines led with 87.2% on time and Delta Air Lines was last with 67.8%.
Over 24 months, Saturday was the most reliable day (78% on time) and July the worst month (54%).
The cancellation rate was 3.2% (US average 1.8%).
ATL to DCA on-time performance by airline
Last 12 months. Airlines with fewer than 30 completed flights are marked “limited data”.
| Airline | On time | Avg delay when late | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | 87.2% | 84 min | 0.0% | 39 |
| PSA Airlines | 74.0% | 130 min | 7.5% | 1,094 |
| Southwest Airlines | 71.8% | 65 min | 1.5% | 1,107 |
| Republic Airways | 70.9% | 56 min | 3.7% | 454 |
| Envoy Air | 69.4% | 65 min | 3.0% | 264 |
| Delta Air Lines | 67.8% | 59 min | 2.4% | 3,842 |
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly ATL to DCA
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 13,682 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5am–6am | 93.1% | 3.6% | 165 |
| 6am–7am | 90.2% | 5.5% | 507 |
| 7am–8am | 84.5% | 2.6% | 1,126 |
| 8am–9am | 85.0% | 3.1% | 476 |
| 9am–10am | 83.4% | 1.4% | 953 |
| 10am–11am | 80.6% | 2.7% | 738 |
| 11am–12pm | 81.7% | 2.1% | 1,346 |
| 12pm–1pm | 82.9% | 2.8% | 108 |
| 1pm–2pm | 72.0% | 0.8% | 845 |
| 2pm–3pm | 69.4% | 2.2% | 184 |
| 3pm–4pm | 62.1% | 1.3% | 949 |
| 4pm–5pm | 64.4% | 3.4% | 1,521 |
| 5pm–6pm | 60.6% | 3.5% | 929 |
| 6pm–7pm | 60.7% | 2.8% | 752 |
| 7pm–8pm | 53.2% | 3.9% | 880 |
| 8pm–9pm | 55.6% | 4.4% | 1,283 |
| 9pm–10pm | 65.4% | 2.9% | 919 |
| 10pm–11pm | Limited data | 1 | |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on ATL to DCA
On-time arrivals during holiday periods compared with all other days, last 24 months.
| Period | On time | vs other days | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving week (Tue before to Mon after) | 70.6% | -2.1 pts | 0.4% | 249 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 73.6% | +1.0 pts | 0.8% | 496 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 60.5% | -12.1 pts | 5.1% | 2,317 |
| All other days | 72.6% | — | 2.5% | 10,620 |
Monthly on-time trend
On-time arrival % each month, with the 12-month US average for reference.
What causes delays on this route
Share of reported delay minutes, last 12 months (BTS cause categories).