Washington (DCA) to Buffalo (BUF): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
The biggest risk when flying DCA to BUF isn't a late arrival — it's not departing at all. 5.3% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled, several times the typical US rate. When flights do go, 66% land on time, below the national average of 78%. Envoy Air has been the safer pick, arriving on time 75% of the time.
- On-time
- 66%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 27 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 5.3%
- Flights/day
- 3.1
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 24m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 296 mi
Best airline from DCA to BUF
3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Envoy Airmost reliable | 75% | 16 min | 3.7% | 294 |
| Republic Airways | 68% | 19 min | 6.5% | 337 |
| PSA Airlines | 65% | 30 min | 5.4% | 1,899 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DCA to BUF
Aim for departures around 11 a.m. (87% on-time); avoid 10 p.m. departures (50%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 68% | 25 min |
| Tuesday | 66% | 22 min |
| Wednesday | 66% | 21 min |
| Thursday | 66% | 30 min |
| Friday | 60% | 35 min |
| Saturdaybest | 73% | 27 min |
| Sunday | 64% | 27 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft56%
- Airline operations23%
- National airspace system12%
- Weather9%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DCA to BUF delayed?
- 34% of DCA–BUF 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 27 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from DCA to BUF?
- Envoy Air has the best on-time record on this route at 75%, based on 294 flights. 3 airlines flew DCA–BUF frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DCA to BUF?
- Departures around 11 a.m. have the best record (87% on-time), while departures around 10 p.m. have the worst (50%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from DCA to BUF?
- The scheduled DCA–BUF flight time averages 1h 24m over 296 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 34% of the time.
- How often are DCA to BUF flights cancelled?
- 5.3% 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 BUF?
- February 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 42% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 82%. If your dates are flexible, that 41-point gap is worth planning around.
Explore related pages
More routes from DCA
Other ways to fly to Buffalo (BUF)
Related guides
Based on 2,550 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.