Washington (DCA) to Albany (ALB): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
The biggest risk when flying DCA to ALB isn't a late arrival — it's not departing at all. 6% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled, several times the typical US rate. When flights do go, 69% land on time, below the national average of 78%. Republic Airways has been the safer pick, arriving on time 78% of the time.
- On-time
- 69%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 26 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 6.0%
- 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 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republic Airwaysmost reliable | 78% | 10 min | 2.7% | 112 |
| American Airlines | 73% | 21 min | 0.0% | 63 |
| PSA Airlines | 68% | 27 min | 6.3% | 2,386 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DCA to ALB
Aim for departures around 9 a.m. (86% on-time); avoid 10 p.m. departures (59%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 65% | 27 min |
| Tuesday | 74% | 26 min |
| Wednesday | 70% | 26 min |
| Thursday | 64% | 31 min |
| Friday | 71% | 21 min |
| Saturdaybest | 78% | 17 min |
| Sunday | 64% | 32 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 operations22%
- National airspace system9%
- Weather6%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DCA to ALB delayed?
- 31% of DCA–ALB 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 26 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from DCA to ALB?
- Republic Airways has the best on-time record on this route at 78%, based on 112 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 (86% on-time), while departures around 10 p.m. have the worst (59%). 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 31% of the time.
- How often are DCA to ALB flights cancelled?
- 6% 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 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.
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Based on 2,615 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.