Best Time to Fly DCA to JFK: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Ronald Reagan Washington National → John F. Kennedy International
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
Over the last 12 months, 77.2% of Washington (DCA) to New York (JFK) flights arrived on time (2,488 scheduled flights). That is in line with the national average of 77.6%.
Among 2 airlines, JetBlue led with 82.2% on time and Republic Airways was last with 76.1%.
Over 24 months, Wednesday was the most reliable day (84% on time) and December the worst month (73%).
The cancellation rate was 5.2% (US average 1.8%).
DCA to JFK 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JetBlue | 82.2% | 77 min | 5.4% | 445 |
| Republic Airways | 76.1% | 69 min | 5.2% | 2,043 |
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly DCA to JFK
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 5,037 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5am–6am | Limited data | 3 | |
| 6am–7am | 91.8% | 4.1% | 1,643 |
| 7am–8am | 93.1% | 1.4% | 73 |
| 8am–9am | 96.9% | 0.0% | 32 |
| 9am–10am | 100.0% | 0.0% | 34 |
| 10am–11am | Limited data | 1 | |
| 11am–12pm | 85.7% | 1.3% | 604 |
| 12pm–1pm | 74.6% | 2.1% | 575 |
| 1pm–2pm | 73.5% | 3.4% | 234 |
| 2pm–3pm | 63.3% | 8.8% | 194 |
| 3pm–4pm | 62.5% | 3.0% | 33 |
| 4pm–5pm | 66.5% | 10.0% | 249 |
| 5pm–6pm | 64.7% | 5.8% | 963 |
| 6pm–7pm | 68.6% | 14.3% | 119 |
| 7pm–8pm | 68.2% | 13.3% | 279 |
| 8pm–9pm | 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 DCA to JFK
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) | 72.4% | -7.3 pts | 0.0% | 105 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 77.6% | -2.1 pts | 1.9% | 155 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 76.7% | -3.0 pts | 13.0% | 846 |
| All other days | 79.7% | — | 3.6% | 3,931 |
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).