Washington (DCA) to Newark (EWR): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Washington (DCA) to Newark (EWR) is a thinner route than most in this dataset — 278 departures over the past year, roughly 5 a week — so treat these numbers as indicative rather than definitive. Of the flights that did operate, 90% arrived on time, comfortably above the national average of 78%. Cancellations are the bigger caveat: 3.8% of scheduled flights never departed.
- On-time
- 90%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 9 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 3.8%
- Flights/day
- 0.76
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 22m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 199 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DCA to EWR
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (92% on-time); avoid 11 a.m. departures (86%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Mondaybest | 96% | 3 min |
| Tuesday | 90% | 8 min |
| Wednesday | 95% | 3 min |
| Thursday | 84% | 16 min |
| Friday | 84% | 11 min |
| Saturday | 86% | 17 min |
| Sunday | 94% | 3 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft30%
- Airline operations15%
- National airspace system55%
- Weather1%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DCA to EWR delayed?
- 10% of DCA–EWR 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 9 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DCA to EWR?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (92% on-time), while departures around 11 a.m. have the worst (86%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from DCA to EWR?
- The scheduled DCA–EWR flight time averages 1h 22m over 199 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 10% of the time.
- How often are DCA to EWR flights cancelled?
- 3.8% 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 EWR?
- May 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 69% of arrivals on time. The best was May 2026 at 100%. If your dates are flexible, that 31-point gap is worth planning around.
Explore related pages
More routes from DCA
Other ways to fly to Newark (EWR)
Related guides
Based on 584 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.