FlightRecord

Washington (DCA) to Rochester (ROC): On-Time Performance

Data through May 2026

Delays are only half the story on DCA–ROC: 4.9% 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, 71% land on time, below the national average of 78%. Envoy Air has been the safer pick, arriving on time 81% of the time.

On-time
71%
arrived <15 min late
Avg delay
24 min
completed flights
Cancelled
4.9%
Flights/day
2.9
last 12 months
Duration
1h 26m
scheduled
Distance
296 mi

Best airline from DCA to ROC

3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.

AirlineOn-timeAvg delayCancelledFlights
Envoy Airmost reliable81%9 min1.1%283
Republic Airways77%18 min4.6%281
PSA Airlines68%27 min5.5%1,662

Monthly on-time trend

Monthly on-time percentage for DCA to ROC flights50%75%100%June 2024: 76% on-time (85 flights)76Jun 2024July 2024: 68% on-time (89 flights)68August 2024: 73% on-time (88 flights)73September 2024: 88% on-time (90 flights)88Sep 2024October 2024: 80% on-time (92 flights)80November 2024: 86% on-time (83 flights)86December 2024: 71% on-time (85 flights)71Dec 2024January 2025: 74% on-time (111 flights)74February 2025: 53% on-time (104 flights)53March 2025: 67% on-time (114 flights)67Mar 2025April 2025: 73% on-time (116 flights)73May 2025: 71% on-time (119 flights)71June 2025: 66% on-time (104 flights)66Jun 2025July 2025: 67% on-time (88 flights)67August 2025: 68% on-time (92 flights)68September 2025: 79% on-time (86 flights)79Sep 2025October 2025: 80% on-time (88 flights)80November 2025: 70% on-time (83 flights)70December 2025: 62% on-time (78 flights)62Dec 2025January 2026: 70% on-time (85 flights)70February 2026: 60% on-time (80 flights)60March 2026: 62% on-time (86 flights)62Mar 2026April 2026: 69% on-time (89 flights)69May 2026: 72% on-time (91 flights)72

Best time to fly from DCA to ROC

Aim for departures around 8 p.m. (87% on-time); avoid 2 p.m. departures (60%).

On-time percentage by scheduled departure hour, DCA to ROC9 a.m.: 77% on-time (300 flights)910 a.m.: 82% on-time (424 flights)1011 a.m.: 70% on-time (58 flights)1112 p.m.: 79% on-time (85 flights)122 p.m.: 60% on-time (104 flights)143 p.m.: 66% on-time (604 flights)158 p.m.: 87% on-time (37 flights)2010 p.m.: 65% on-time (603 flights)22scheduled departure hour

By day of week

DayOn-timeAvg delay
Monday64%35 min
Tuesday70%26 min
Wednesday68%26 min
Thursday71%22 min
Friday74%21 min
Saturdaybest81%15 min
Sunday72%18 min

What causes delays on this route

Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.

  • Late-arriving aircraft56%
  • Airline operations25%
  • National airspace system10%
  • Weather9%

Frequently asked questions

How often are flights from DCA to ROC delayed?
29% of DCA–ROC 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 24 minutes.
Which airline is most reliable from DCA to ROC?
Envoy Air has the best on-time record on this route at 81%, based on 283 flights. 3 airlines flew DCA–ROC frequently enough to compare in this period.
What is the best time of day to fly from DCA to ROC?
Departures around 8 p.m. have the best record (87% on-time), while departures around 2 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 ROC?
The scheduled DCA–ROC flight time averages 1h 26m over 296 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 29% of the time.
How often are DCA to ROC flights cancelled?
4.9% 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 ROC?
February 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 53% of arrivals on time. The best was September 2024 at 88%. If your dates are flexible, that 35-point gap is worth planning around.

Based on 2,226 flights, 2024-062026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.