Washington (DCA) to Albany (ALB): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
The biggest risk when flying DCA to ALB isn't a late arrival — it's not departing at all. 5.6% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled, several times the typical US rate. When flights do go, 70% land on time, below the national average of 78%. Republic Airways has been the safer pick, arriving on time 79% of the time.
- On-time
- 70%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 24 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 5.6%
- Flights/day
- 3.2
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 31m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 318 mi
Best airline from DCA to ALB
3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republic Airwaysmost reliable | 79% | 9 min | 2.5% | 120 |
| Envoy Air | 78% | 17 min | 4.8% | 63 |
| PSA Airlines | 70% | 25 min | 5.8% | 2,308 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DCA to ALB
Aim for departures around 9 a.m. (85% on-time); avoid 2 p.m. departures (60%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 67% | 26 min |
| Tuesday | 75% | 26 min |
| Wednesday | 71% | 26 min |
| Thursday | 67% | 26 min |
| Friday | 72% | 18 min |
| Saturdaybest | 78% | 16 min |
| Sunday | 65% | 28 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft64%
- Airline operations23%
- National airspace system8%
- Weather4%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DCA to ALB delayed?
- 30% of DCA–ALB 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 24 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from DCA to ALB?
- Republic Airways has the best on-time record on this route at 79%, based on 120 flights. 3 airlines flew DCA–ALB frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DCA to ALB?
- Departures around 9 a.m. have the best record (85% on-time), while departures around 2 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 DCA to ALB?
- The scheduled DCA–ALB flight time averages 1h 31m over 318 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 30% of the time.
- How often are DCA to ALB flights cancelled?
- 5.6% 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 DCA to ALB?
- December 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 54% of arrivals on time. The best was September 2024 at 88%. If your dates are flexible, that 34-point gap is worth planning around.
Explore related pages
More routes from DCA
Based on 2,501 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.