Nashville (BNA) to Washington (DCA): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Delays are only half the story on BNA–DCA: 3.3% of its scheduled flights were outright cancelled, well above the US norm, so a backup plan matters more here than on most routes. When flights do go, 73% land on time, below the national average of 78%. Republic Airways has been the safer pick, arriving on time 77% of the time.
- On-time
- 73%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 19 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 3.3%
- Flights/day
- 12
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 49m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 562 mi
Best airline from BNA to DCA
5 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republic Airwaysmost reliable | 77% | 16 min | 2.5% | 3,589 |
| American Airlines | 77% | 21 min | 4.8% | 434 |
| Southwest Airlines | 73% | 16 min | 1.7% | 3,203 |
| Envoy Air | 71% | 18 min | 7.6% | 197 |
| PSA Airlines | 65% | 36 min | 7.9% | 1,496 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from BNA to DCA
Aim for departures around 8 a.m. (93% on-time); avoid 7 p.m. departures (60%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 72% | 20 min |
| Tuesday | 75% | 17 min |
| Wednesday | 76% | 18 min |
| Thursday | 70% | 22 min |
| Friday | 68% | 25 min |
| Saturdaybest | 85% | 11 min |
| Sunday | 70% | 20 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft43%
- Airline operations22%
- National airspace system31%
- Weather4%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from BNA to DCA delayed?
- 27% of BNA–DCA flights arrived 15 or more minutes late (the US DOT definition of a delay) between 2024-07 and 2026-07. The average arrival delay across completed flights was 19 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from BNA to DCA?
- Republic Airways has the best on-time record on this route at 77%, based on 3,589 flights. 5 airlines flew BNA–DCA frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from BNA to DCA?
- Departures around 8 a.m. have the best record (93% on-time), while departures around 7 p.m. have the worst (60%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from BNA to DCA?
- The scheduled BNA–DCA flight time averages 1h 49m over 562 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 27% of the time.
- How often are BNA to DCA flights cancelled?
- 3.3% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-07 and 2026-07 — several times the typical US rate, so consider earlier departures or backup options.
- What is the worst month to fly from BNA to DCA?
- February 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 50% of arrivals on time. The best was November 2024 at 90%. If your dates are flexible, that 40-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 8,919 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.