New York (LGA) to Washington (DCA): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
New York (LGA) to Washington (DCA) has an unusually high scrub rate — 4.8% of scheduled departures never left the gate, a cancellation rate several times the national figure. When flights do go, 73% land on time, below the national average of 78%. American Airlines has been the safer pick, arriving on time 77% of the time.
- On-time
- 73%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 19 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 4.8%
- Flights/day
- 13
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 27m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 214 mi
Best airline from LGA to DCA
3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlinesmost reliable | 77% | 24 min | 4.6% | 585 |
| Republic Airways | 72% | 18 min | 4.8% | 9,015 |
| Delta Air Lines | 54% | 38 min | 3.5% | 86 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from LGA to DCA
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (91% on-time); avoid 8 p.m. departures (48%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 72% | 18 min |
| Tuesday | 73% | 19 min |
| Wednesday | 72% | 19 min |
| Thursday | 70% | 19 min |
| Friday | 69% | 21 min |
| Saturdaybest | 88% | 9 min |
| Sunday | 70% | 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 aircraft35%
- Airline operations20%
- National airspace system41%
- Weather3%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from LGA to DCA delayed?
- 28% of LGA–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 19 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from LGA to DCA?
- American Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 77%, based on 585 flights. 3 airlines flew LGA–DCA frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from LGA to DCA?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (91% on-time), while departures around 8 p.m. have the worst (48%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from LGA to DCA?
- The scheduled LGA–DCA flight time averages 1h 27m over 214 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 28% of the time.
- How often are LGA to DCA flights cancelled?
- 4.8% 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 LGA to DCA?
- March 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 54% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 91%. If your dates are flexible, that 37-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 9,686 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.