Washington (DCA) to New York (LGA): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Washington (DCA) to New York (LGA) has an unusually high scrub rate — 4.8% of scheduled departures never left the gate, a cancellation rate several times the national figure. When flights do go, 72% land on time, below the national average of 78%.
- On-time
- 72%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 22 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 4.8%
- Flights/day
- 13
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 19m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 214 mi
Best airline from DCA to LGA
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republic Airwaysmost reliable | 72% | 21 min | 4.8% | 8,482 |
| American Airlines | 68% | 34 min | 4.4% | 701 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DCA to LGA
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (87% on-time); avoid 6 p.m. departures (53%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 73% | 21 min |
| Tuesday | 73% | 21 min |
| Wednesday | 71% | 23 min |
| Thursday | 67% | 23 min |
| Friday | 69% | 23 min |
| Saturdaybest | 85% | 12 min |
| Sunday | 69% | 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 aircraft34%
- Airline operations19%
- National airspace system44%
- Weather3%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DCA to LGA delayed?
- 28% of DCA–LGA flights arrived 15 or more minutes late (the US DOT definition of a delay) between 2024-06 and 2026-05. The average arrival delay across completed flights was 22 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from DCA to LGA?
- Republic Airways has the best on-time record on this route at 72%, based on 8,482 flights. 2 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 (87% on-time), while departures around 6 p.m. have the worst (53%). 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 19m over 214 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 28% of the time.
- How often are DCA to LGA flights cancelled?
- 4.8% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05 — 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 9,207 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.