Best Time to Fly RDU to DCA: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Raleigh-Durham International → Ronald Reagan Washington National
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
2,009 flights were scheduled from Raleigh/Durham (RDU) to Washington (DCA) in the last 12 months, and 62.1% of those that flew arrived on time, 15.5 points below the US average of 77.6%.
American Airlines was the most punctual of the 4 airlines on the route at 78.8%, while Republic Airways trailed at 56.1%.
January has been the best month (75% on time) and Thursday the weakest day of the week (62%).
5.2% of flights were cancelled, versus 1.8% nationally.
RDU 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 | 78.8% | 80 min | 3.4% | 205 |
| Envoy Air | 68.1% | 67 min | 2.9% | 419 |
| PSA Airlines | 58.6% | 85 min | 6.2% | 883 |
| Republic Airways | 56.1% | 73 min | 6.2% | 502 |
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly RDU to DCA
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 4,275 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5am–6am | 92.8% | 0.0% | 69 |
| 6am–7am | 86.9% | 3.1% | 634 |
| 7am–8am | 85.9% | 7.1% | 84 |
| 8am–9am | 45.6% | 0.0% | 57 |
| 9am–10am | 88.3% | 5.1% | 117 |
| 10am–11am | 83.6% | 3.7% | 591 |
| 11am–12pm | 73.4% | 2.0% | 343 |
| 12pm–1pm | 87.5% | 1.8% | 57 |
| 1pm–2pm | 64.4% | 2.8% | 599 |
| 2pm–3pm | Limited data | 20 | |
| 3pm–4pm | 58.0% | 4.2% | 403 |
| 4pm–5pm | 67.6% | 8.5% | 82 |
| 5pm–6pm | 52.0% | 3.5% | 371 |
| 6pm–7pm | 60.5% | 8.2% | 146 |
| 7pm–8pm | 39.2% | 8.9% | 213 |
| 8pm–9pm | 42.6% | 7.9% | 443 |
| 9pm–10pm | 35.0% | 13.0% | 46 |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on RDU 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) | 62.8% | -5.8 pts | 0.0% | 86 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 78.6% | +10.0 pts | 0.0% | 140 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 59.1% | -9.5 pts | 9.6% | 666 |
| All other days | 68.6% | — | 3.7% | 3,383 |
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).