Boston (BOS) to Washington (DCA): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Boston (BOS) to Washington (DCA) has an unusually high scrub rate — 3.3% of scheduled departures never left the gate, a cancellation rate several times the national figure. When flights do go, 76% land on time, below the national average of 78%. Delta Air Lines has been the safer pick, arriving on time 82% of the time.
- On-time
- 76%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 19 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 3.3%
- Flights/day
- 25
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 50m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 399 mi
Best airline from BOS to DCA
5 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Linesmost reliable | 82% | 11 min | 1.7% | 121 |
| Envoy Air | 79% | 15 min | 5.8% | 258 |
| American Airlines | 77% | 23 min | 3.0% | 4,389 |
| Republic Airways | 77% | 16 min | 3.5% | 8,523 |
| JetBlue Airways | 72% | 21 min | 3.1% | 6,143 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from BOS to DCA
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (92% on-time); avoid 8 p.m. departures (51%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 75% | 20 min |
| Tuesday | 80% | 14 min |
| Wednesday | 78% | 17 min |
| Thursday | 72% | 22 min |
| Friday | 71% | 23 min |
| Saturdaybest | 83% | 15 min |
| Sunday | 72% | 21 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft39%
- Airline operations23%
- National airspace system35%
- Weather3%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from BOS to DCA delayed?
- 25% of BOS–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 BOS to DCA?
- Delta Air Lines has the best on-time record on this route at 82%, based on 121 flights. 5 airlines flew BOS–DCA frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from BOS to DCA?
- Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (92% on-time), while departures around 8 p.m. have the worst (51%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from BOS to DCA?
- The scheduled BOS–DCA flight time averages 1h 50m over 399 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 25% of the time.
- How often are BOS 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 BOS to DCA?
- February 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 54% of arrivals on time. The best was November 2024 at 90%. If your dates are flexible, that 36-point gap is worth planning around.
Explore related pages
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Related guides
Based on 19,434 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.