Washington (DCA) to Hartford (BDL): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Delays are only half the story on DCA–BDL: 4.2% 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, 72% land on time, below the national average of 78%.
- On-time
- 72%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 20 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 4.2%
- Flights/day
- 4.8
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 27m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 313 mi
Best airline from DCA to BDL
4 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republic Airwaysmost reliable | 77% | 14 min | 3.2% | 696 |
| Envoy Air | 73% | 14 min | 9.7% | 124 |
| American Airlines | 71% | 21 min | 3.5% | 919 |
| PSA Airlines | 71% | 22 min | 4.5% | 2,012 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DCA to BDL
Aim for departures around 7 a.m. (84% on-time); avoid 6 p.m. departures (56%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 71% | 21 min |
| Tuesday | 76% | 16 min |
| Wednesday | 75% | 17 min |
| Thursday | 69% | 22 min |
| Friday | 70% | 20 min |
| Saturdaybest | 79% | 15 min |
| Sunday | 69% | 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 aircraft59%
- Airline operations25%
- National airspace system13%
- Weather4%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DCA to BDL delayed?
- 28% of DCA–BDL 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 20 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from DCA to BDL?
- Republic Airways has the best on-time record on this route at 77%, based on 696 flights. 4 airlines flew DCA–BDL frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DCA to BDL?
- Departures around 7 a.m. have the best record (84% on-time), while departures around 6 p.m. have the worst (56%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from DCA to BDL?
- The scheduled DCA–BDL flight time averages 1h 27m over 313 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 28% of the time.
- How often are DCA to BDL flights cancelled?
- 4.2% 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 BDL?
- December 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 57% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 93%. If your dates are flexible, that 36-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 3,751 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.