Washington (DCA) to New York (LGA): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Washington (DCA) to New York (LGA) has an unusually high scrub rate — 5.3% of scheduled departures never left the gate, a cancellation rate several times the national figure. When flights do go, 71% land on time, below the national average of 78%. Delta Air Lines has been the safer pick, arriving on time 89% of the time.
- On-time
- 71%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 23 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 5.3%
- Flights/day
- 13
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 20m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 214 mi
Best airline from DCA to LGA
3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Linesmost reliable | 89% | 8 min | 3.5% | 85 |
| Republic Airways | 71% | 22 min | 5.4% | 9,017 |
| American Airlines | 68% | 35 min | 4.4% | 586 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DCA to LGA
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (88% on-time); avoid 6 p.m. departures (51%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 73% | 22 min |
| Tuesday | 73% | 22 min |
| Wednesday | 70% | 24 min |
| Thursday | 66% | 23 min |
| Friday | 69% | 24 min |
| Saturdaybest | 84% | 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 aircraft33%
- Airline operations20%
- National airspace system43%
- Weather3%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DCA to LGA delayed?
- 29% of DCA–LGA 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 23 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from DCA to LGA?
- Delta Air Lines has the best on-time record on this route at 89%, based on 85 flights. 3 airlines flew DCA–LGA frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DCA to LGA?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (88% on-time), while departures around 6 p.m. have the worst (51%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from DCA to LGA?
- The scheduled DCA–LGA flight time averages 1h 20m over 214 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 29% of the time.
- How often are DCA to LGA 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 LGA?
- March 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 53% of arrivals on time. The best was September 2024 at 90%. If your dates are flexible, that 37-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 9,688 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.