Best Time to Fly SAN to DCA: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
San Diego International → Ronald Reagan Washington National
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
364 flights were scheduled from San Diego (SAN) to Washington (DCA) in the last 12 months, and 69.8% of those that flew arrived on time, 7.9 points below the US average of 77.6%.
Alaska Airlines was the only reporting airline with regular flights on this route.
Over 24 months, Tuesday was the most reliable day (76% on time) and August the worst month (48%).
The cancellation rate was 1.1% (US average 1.8%).
SAN 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska Airlines | 69.8% | 59 min | 1.1% | 364 |
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly SAN to DCA
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 501 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12pm–1pm | 69.1% | 1.0% | 312 |
| 1pm–2pm | 64.4% | 1.3% | 152 |
| 2pm–3pm | 52.8% | 0.0% | 36 |
| 3pm–4pm | 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 SAN 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) | Limited data | 6 | ||
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | Limited data | 15 | ||
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 65.4% | +0.0 pts | 0.9% | 109 |
| All other days | 65.4% | — | 1.1% | 371 |
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).