Fort Lauderdale (FLL) to Washington (DCA): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Fort Lauderdale (FLL) to Washington (DCA) effectively runs on two schedules. In November 2024, 90% of arrivals were on time; in July 2025 that fell to 55% — a 36-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 71% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (86% vs 60%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 71%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 22 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.8%
- Flights/day
- 6.3
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 33m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 899 mi
Best airline from FLL to DCA
3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlinesmost reliable | 73% | 23 min | 2.1% | 1,020 |
| JetBlue Airways | 72% | 21 min | 1.9% | 2,959 |
| Southwest Airlines | 67% | 25 min | 1.0% | 776 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from FLL to DCA
Aim for departures around 7 a.m. (96% on-time); avoid 7 p.m. departures (58%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 69% | 25 min |
| Tuesday | 76% | 20 min |
| Wednesday | 76% | 16 min |
| Thursday | 70% | 20 min |
| Friday | 66% | 25 min |
| Saturdaybest | 78% | 17 min |
| Sunday | 65% | 30 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft41%
- Airline operations27%
- National airspace system29%
- Weather4%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from FLL to DCA delayed?
- 29% of FLL–DCA 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 22 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from FLL to DCA?
- American Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 73%, based on 1,020 flights. 3 airlines flew FLL–DCA frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from FLL to DCA?
- Departures around 7 a.m. have the best record (96% on-time), while departures around 7 p.m. have the worst (58%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from FLL to DCA?
- The scheduled FLL–DCA flight time averages 2h 33m over 899 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 29% of the time.
- How often are FLL to DCA flights cancelled?
- 1.8% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-07 and 2026-07, slightly above the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from FLL to DCA?
- July 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 55% of arrivals on time. The best was November 2024 at 90%. If your dates are flexible, that 36-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 4,755 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.