Newark (EWR) to Washington (DCA): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Newark (EWR) to Washington (DCA) is a thinner route than most in this dataset — 333 departures over the past year, roughly 6 a week — so treat these numbers as indicative rather than definitive. Of the flights that did operate, 73% arrived on time, noticeably below the national average of 78%. Cancellations are the bigger caveat: 4.3% of scheduled flights never departed.
- On-time
- 73%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 18 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 4.3%
- Flights/day
- 0.91
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 31m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 199 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from EWR to DCA
Aim for departures around 9 a.m. (88% on-time); avoid 3 p.m. departures (38%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 70% | 21 min |
| Tuesday | 72% | 14 min |
| Wednesday | 77% | 10 min |
| Thursday | 67% | 30 min |
| Friday | 69% | 17 min |
| Saturdaybest | 84% | 9 min |
| Sunday | 71% | 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 aircraft27%
- Airline operations24%
- National airspace system48%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from EWR to DCA delayed?
- 27% of EWR–DCA 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 18 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from EWR to DCA?
- Departures around 9 a.m. have the best record (88% on-time), while departures around 3 p.m. have the worst (38%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from EWR to DCA?
- The scheduled EWR–DCA flight time averages 1h 31m over 199 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 27% of the time.
- How often are EWR to DCA flights cancelled?
- 4.3% 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 EWR to DCA?
- November 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 30% of arrivals on time. The best was November 2024 at 97%. If your dates are flexible, that 67-point gap is worth planning around.
Explore related pages
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Based on 587 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.