FlightRecord

Hartford (BDL) to Washington (DCA): On-Time Performance

Data through May 2026

The biggest risk when flying BDL to DCA isn't a late arrival — it's not departing at all. 4.8% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled, several times the typical US rate. When flights do go, 71% land on time, below the national average of 78%. Republic Airways has been the safer pick, arriving on time 74% of the time.

On-time
71%
arrived <15 min late
Avg delay
25 min
completed flights
Cancelled
4.8%
Flights/day
4.8
last 12 months
Duration
1h 31m
scheduled
Distance
313 mi

Best airline from BDL to DCA

4 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.

AirlineOn-timeAvg delayCancelledFlights
Republic Airwaysmost reliable74%16 min3.6%696
PSA Airlines71%29 min5.1%2,014
American Airlines71%25 min3.7%918
Envoy Air66%30 min13.6%125

Monthly on-time trend

Monthly on-time percentage for BDL to DCA flights50%75%100%June 2024: 77% on-time (160 flights)77Jun 2024July 2024: 69% on-time (169 flights)69August 2024: 73% on-time (167 flights)73September 2024: 86% on-time (171 flights)86Sep 2024October 2024: 92% on-time (177 flights)92November 2024: 83% on-time (166 flights)83December 2024: 75% on-time (157 flights)75Dec 2024January 2025: 73% on-time (169 flights)73February 2025: 55% on-time (158 flights)55March 2025: 67% on-time (172 flights)67Mar 2025April 2025: 71% on-time (168 flights)71May 2025: 67% on-time (175 flights)67June 2025: 62% on-time (167 flights)62Jun 2025July 2025: 69% on-time (172 flights)69August 2025: 64% on-time (170 flights)64September 2025: 66% on-time (120 flights)66Sep 2025October 2025: 74% on-time (140 flights)74November 2025: 63% on-time (136 flights)63December 2025: 59% on-time (130 flights)59Dec 2025January 2026: 74% on-time (143 flights)74February 2026: 62% on-time (133 flights)62March 2026: 70% on-time (149 flights)70Mar 2026April 2026: 72% on-time (135 flights)72May 2026: 77% on-time (149 flights)77

Best time to fly from BDL to DCA

Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (92% on-time); avoid 7 p.m. departures (53%).

On-time percentage by scheduled departure hour, BDL to DCA5 a.m.: 92% on-time (590 flights)56 a.m.: 86% on-time (92 flights)68 a.m.: 81% on-time (148 flights)89 a.m.: 83% on-time (464 flights)911 a.m.: 72% on-time (106 flights)1112 p.m.: 72% on-time (606 flights)121 p.m.: 76% on-time (136 flights)132 p.m.: 60% on-time (280 flights)145 p.m.: 57% on-time (692 flights)176 p.m.: 77% on-time (45 flights)187 p.m.: 53% on-time (506 flights)198 p.m.: 69% on-time (65 flights)20scheduled departure hour

By day of week

DayOn-timeAvg delay
Monday71%29 min
Tuesday76%18 min
Wednesday72%24 min
Thursday70%24 min
Friday68%30 min
Saturdaybest80%17 min
Sunday66%31 min

What causes delays on this route

Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.

  • Late-arriving aircraft51%
  • Airline operations21%
  • National airspace system25%
  • Weather4%

Frequently asked questions

How often are flights from BDL to DCA delayed?
29% of BDL–DCA flights arrived 15 or more minutes late (the US DOT definition of a delay) between 2024-06 and 2026-05. The average arrival delay across completed flights was 25 minutes.
Which airline is most reliable from BDL to DCA?
Republic Airways has the best on-time record on this route at 74%, based on 696 flights. 4 airlines flew BDL–DCA frequently enough to compare in this period.
What is the best time of day to fly from BDL to DCA?
Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (92% on-time), while departures around 7 p.m. have the worst (53%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
How long is the flight from BDL to DCA?
The scheduled BDL–DCA flight time averages 1h 31m over 313 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 29% of the time.
How often are BDL to DCA flights cancelled?
4.8% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05 — several times the typical US rate, so consider earlier departures or backup options.
What is the worst month to fly from BDL to DCA?
February 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 55% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 92%. If your dates are flexible, that 36-point gap is worth planning around.

Based on 3,753 flights, 2024-062026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.