Best Time to Fly LGA to DCA: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
LaGuardia → Ronald Reagan Washington National
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
Over the last 12 months, 67.2% of New York (LGA) to Washington (DCA) flights arrived on time (4,829 scheduled flights). That is 10.4 points below the national average of 77.6%.
Among 2 airlines, Republic Airways led with 67.5% on time and Delta Air Lines was last with 54.2%.
Over 24 months, Saturday was the most reliable day (87% on time) and February the worst month (59%).
The cancellation rate was 5.4% (US average 1.8%).
LGA 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 | 67.5% | 60 min | 5.4% | 4,719 |
| Delta Air Lines | 54.2% | 83 min | 3.5% | 86 |
| American Airlines | Limited data | 24 | ||
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly LGA to DCA
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 9,316 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5am–6am | Limited data | 1 | |
| 6am–7am | 91.3% | 3.8% | 1,047 |
| 7am–8am | 73.5% | 2.7% | 602 |
| 8am–9am | 85.1% | 2.0% | 830 |
| 9am–10am | 81.0% | 1.8% | 333 |
| 10am–11am | 77.3% | 2.8% | 251 |
| 11am–12pm | 83.4% | 1.6% | 1,056 |
| 12pm–1pm | 76.0% | 2.2% | 460 |
| 1pm–2pm | 69.6% | 1.2% | 255 |
| 2pm–3pm | 62.0% | 3.7% | 1,028 |
| 3pm–4pm | 56.2% | 8.0% | 88 |
| 4pm–5pm | 64.4% | 8.6% | 382 |
| 5pm–6pm | 66.5% | 8.3% | 1,139 |
| 6pm–7pm | Limited data | 18 | |
| 7pm–8pm | 54.0% | 9.5% | 1,021 |
| 8pm–9pm | 48.1% | 10.7% | 205 |
| 9pm–10pm | 65.7% | 6.5% | 599 |
| 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 LGA 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) | 77.3% | +4.9 pts | 0.0% | 163 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 70.1% | -2.3 pts | 1.0% | 197 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 72.4% | -0.0 pts | 10.6% | 1,653 |
| All other days | 72.4% | — | 3.7% | 7,303 |
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).