Washington (DCA) to Boston (BOS): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Delays are only half the story on DCA–BOS: 3.4% 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, 75% land on time, below the national average of 78%. Republic Airways has been the safer pick, arriving on time 80% of the time.
- On-time
- 75%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 21 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 3.4%
- Flights/day
- 25
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 39m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 399 mi
Best airline from DCA to BOS
5 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republic Airwaysmost reliable | 80% | 15 min | 3.7% | 8,520 |
| Delta Air Lines | 79% | 20 min | 0.8% | 121 |
| Envoy Air | 74% | 20 min | 6.6% | 258 |
| JetBlue Airways | 71% | 27 min | 3.3% | 6,140 |
| American Airlines | 69% | 26 min | 2.8% | 4,393 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DCA to BOS
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (92% on-time); avoid 4 p.m. departures (58%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 73% | 22 min |
| Tuesday | 79% | 16 min |
| Wednesday | 77% | 20 min |
| Thursday | 71% | 25 min |
| Friday | 70% | 26 min |
| Saturdaybest | 84% | 14 min |
| Sunday | 72% | 24 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft47%
- Airline operations20%
- National airspace system30%
- Weather3%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DCA to BOS delayed?
- 25% of DCA–BOS 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 BOS?
- Republic Airways has the best on-time record on this route at 80%, based on 8,520 flights. 5 airlines flew DCA–BOS frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DCA to BOS?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (92% on-time), while departures around 4 p.m. have the worst (58%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from DCA to BOS?
- The scheduled DCA–BOS flight time averages 1h 39m over 399 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 25% of the time.
- How often are DCA to BOS flights cancelled?
- 3.4% 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 BOS?
- September 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 61% of arrivals on time. The best was November 2024 at 88%. If your dates are flexible, that 27-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 19,432 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.