Washington (DCA) to Manchester (MHT): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Delays are only half the story on DCA–MHT: 5.7% of its scheduled flights were outright cancelled, well above the US norm, so a backup plan matters more here than on most routes. When flights do go, 73% land on time, below the national average of 78%.
- On-time
- 73%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 20 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 5.7%
- Flights/day
- 3.1
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 40m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 406 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DCA to MHT
Aim for departures around 8 p.m. (89% on-time); avoid 10 p.m. departures (60%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 69% | 24 min |
| Tuesday | 76% | 18 min |
| Wednesday | 73% | 21 min |
| Thursday | 73% | 21 min |
| Friday | 72% | 19 min |
| Saturdaybest | 82% | 16 min |
| Sunday | 68% | 21 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft61%
- Airline operations25%
- National airspace system8%
- Weather6%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DCA to MHT delayed?
- 27% of DCA–MHT 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 20 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DCA to MHT?
- Departures around 8 p.m. have the best record (89% on-time), while departures around 10 p.m. have the worst (60%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from DCA to MHT?
- The scheduled DCA–MHT flight time averages 1h 40m over 406 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 27% of the time.
- How often are DCA to MHT flights cancelled?
- 5.7% 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 MHT?
- March 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 59% of arrivals on time. The best was November 2024 at 90%. If your dates are flexible, that 31-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 2,489 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.