Washington (DCA) to Raleigh/Durham (RDU): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
The biggest risk when flying DCA to RDU isn't a late arrival — it's not departing at all. 4.4% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled, several times the typical US rate. When flights do go, 73% land on time, below the national average of 78%. Envoy Air has been the safer pick, arriving on time 79% of the time.
- On-time
- 73%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 21 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 4.4%
- Flights/day
- 5.5
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 20m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 227 mi
Best airline from DCA to RDU
5 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Envoy Airmost reliable | 79% | 16 min | 3.6% | 729 |
| Republic Airways | 76% | 18 min | 4.9% | 1,350 |
| Endeavor Air | 73% | 26 min | 3.4% | 468 |
| PSA Airlines | 69% | 23 min | 5.1% | 1,538 |
| American Airlines | 65% | 32 min | 2.6% | 425 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DCA to RDU
Aim for departures around 10 a.m. (94% on-time); avoid 4 p.m. departures (57%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 74% | 21 min |
| Tuesday | 75% | 18 min |
| Wednesday | 70% | 23 min |
| Thursday | 69% | 25 min |
| Friday | 71% | 25 min |
| Saturdaybest | 80% | 13 min |
| Sunday | 72% | 22 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft58%
- Airline operations19%
- National airspace system17%
- Weather5%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DCA to RDU delayed?
- 28% of DCA–RDU 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 21 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from DCA to RDU?
- Envoy Air has the best on-time record on this route at 79%, based on 729 flights. 5 airlines flew DCA–RDU frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DCA to RDU?
- Departures around 10 a.m. have the best record (94% on-time), while departures around 4 p.m. have the worst (57%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from DCA to RDU?
- The scheduled DCA–RDU flight time averages 1h 20m over 227 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 28% of the time.
- How often are DCA to RDU flights cancelled?
- 4.4% 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 RDU?
- July 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 45% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 88%. If your dates are flexible, that 44-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 4,510 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.