Washington (IAD) to Buffalo (BUF): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Washington (IAD) to Buffalo (BUF) is a thinner route than most in this dataset — 147 departures over the past year, roughly 3 a week — so treat these numbers as indicative rather than definitive. Of the flights that did operate, 84% arrived on time, comfortably above the national average of 78%. Cancellations are the bigger caveat: 3.6% of scheduled flights never departed.
- On-time
- 84%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 18 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 3.6%
- Flights/day
- 0.40
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 24m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 283 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from IAD to BUF
Aim for departures around 8 a.m. (94% on-time); avoid 5 p.m. departures (82%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 77% | 17 min |
| Tuesday | 83% | 29 min |
| Wednesday | 81% | 14 min |
| Thursday | 86% | 17 min |
| Friday | 87% | 13 min |
| Saturdaybest | 89% | 31 min |
| Sunday | 82% | 15 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft26%
- Airline operations25%
- National airspace system13%
- Weather36%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from IAD to BUF delayed?
- 16% of IAD–BUF 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 18 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from IAD to BUF?
- Departures around 8 a.m. have the best record (94% on-time), while departures around 5 p.m. have the worst (82%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from IAD to BUF?
- The scheduled IAD–BUF flight time averages 1h 24m over 283 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 16% of the time.
- How often are IAD to BUF flights cancelled?
- 3.6% 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 day of the week is most reliable for IAD to BUF?
- Saturday flights have the best record at 89% on-time. Day-of-week differences on this route are meaningful — Monday trails at 77%.
Explore related pages
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Other ways to fly to Buffalo (BUF)
Related guides
Based on 305 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.