Best Time to Fly JFK to DCA: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
John F. Kennedy International → Ronald Reagan Washington National
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
Over the last 12 months, 67.2% of New York (JFK) to Washington (DCA) flights arrived on time (2,520 scheduled flights). That is 10.4 points below the national average of 77.6%.
Republic Airways was the most punctual of the 2 airlines on the route at 70.1%, while JetBlue trailed at 53.6%.
September has been the best month (86% on time) and Thursday the weakest day of the week (64%).
5.4% of flights were cancelled, versus 1.8% nationally.
JFK 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republic Airways | 70.1% | 65 min | 5.3% | 2,075 |
| JetBlue | 53.6% | 82 min | 5.8% | 445 |
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly JFK to DCA
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 5,069 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6am–7am | 83.9% | 3.2% | 218 |
| 7am–8am | 90.5% | 1.8% | 171 |
| 8am–9am | 83.2% | 2.9% | 783 |
| 9am–10am | 85.8% | 0.0% | 289 |
| 11am–12pm | 81.8% | 0.0% | 33 |
| 12pm–1pm | 96.8% | 0.0% | 63 |
| 1pm–2pm | 51.0% | 2.0% | 50 |
| 2pm–3pm | 60.7% | 3.7% | 460 |
| 3pm–4pm | 56.9% | 4.8% | 309 |
| 4pm–5pm | 71.6% | 4.2% | 450 |
| 5pm–6pm | 68.2% | 3.9% | 413 |
| 6pm–7pm | Limited data | 22 | |
| 7pm–8pm | 56.1% | 2.5% | 118 |
| 8pm–9pm | 62.7% | 7.1% | 424 |
| 9pm–10pm | 66.2% | 10.1% | 1,210 |
| 10pm–11pm | 73.5% | 12.5% | 56 |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on JFK 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) | 78.8% | +6.9 pts | 0.0% | 105 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 66.5% | -5.5 pts | 1.3% | 154 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 67.2% | -4.8 pts | 12.8% | 846 |
| All other days | 71.9% | — | 3.9% | 3,964 |
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).