Washington (DCA) to Hartford (BDL): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Delays are only half the story on DCA–BDL: 4.8% 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%. Republic Airways has been the safer pick, arriving on time 78% of the time.
- On-time
- 72%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 21 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 4.8%
- Flights/day
- 4.7
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 27m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 313 mi
Best airline from DCA to BDL
4 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republic Airwaysmost reliable | 78% | 14 min | 3.0% | 766 |
| Envoy Air | 73% | 15 min | 10.0% | 120 |
| American Airlines | 72% | 21 min | 3.7% | 899 |
| PSA Airlines | 70% | 23 min | 5.6% | 2,109 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DCA to BDL
Aim for departures around 7 a.m. (83% on-time); avoid 6 p.m. departures (53%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 70% | 23 min |
| Tuesday | 77% | 17 min |
| Wednesday | 74% | 18 min |
| Thursday | 68% | 22 min |
| Friday | 70% | 21 min |
| Saturdaybest | 79% | 15 min |
| Sunday | 68% | 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 aircraft58%
- 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 2024-07 and 2026-07. The average arrival delay across completed flights was 21 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from DCA to BDL?
- Republic Airways has the best on-time record on this route at 78%, based on 766 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 (83% on-time), while departures around 6 p.m. have the worst (53%). 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?
- 4.8% 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 BDL?
- July 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 56% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 93%. If your dates are flexible, that 37-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 3,894 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.