Washington (DCA) to New York (JFK): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Washington (DCA) to New York (JFK) has an unusually high scrub rate — 5% of scheduled departures never left the gate, a cancellation rate several times the national figure. When flights do go, 78% land on time, no worse than the national average of 78%.
- On-time
- 78%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 16 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 5.0%
- Flights/day
- 6.8
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 25m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 213 mi
Best airline from DCA to JFK
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JetBlue Airwaysmost reliable | 84% | 13 min | 5.3% | 569 |
| Republic Airways | 78% | 17 min | 4.9% | 4,654 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DCA to JFK
Aim for departures around 9 a.m. (100% on-time); avoid 3 p.m. departures (63%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 78% | 17 min |
| Tuesday | 82% | 13 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 83% | 14 min |
| Thursday | 77% | 18 min |
| Friday | 74% | 20 min |
| Saturday | 78% | 16 min |
| Sunday | 77% | 16 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft35%
- Airline operations22%
- National airspace system36%
- Weather7%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DCA to JFK delayed?
- 22% of DCA–JFK 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 16 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from DCA to JFK?
- JetBlue Airways has the best on-time record on this route at 84%, based on 569 flights. 2 airlines flew DCA–JFK frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DCA to JFK?
- Departures around 9 a.m. have the best record (100% on-time), while departures around 3 p.m. have the worst (63%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from DCA to JFK?
- The scheduled DCA–JFK flight time averages 1h 25m over 213 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 22% of the time.
- How often are DCA to JFK flights cancelled?
- 5% 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 JFK?
- July 2024 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 64% of arrivals on time. The best was September 2024 at 89%. If your dates are flexible, that 25-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 5,223 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.