Manchester (MHT) to Washington (DCA): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
The biggest risk when flying MHT to DCA isn't a late arrival — it's not departing at all. 5.2% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled, several times the typical US rate. When flights do go, 74% land on time, below the national average of 78%.
- On-time
- 74%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 26 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 5.2%
- Flights/day
- 3.1
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 53m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 406 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from MHT to DCA
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (87% on-time); avoid 1 p.m. departures (62%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 73% | 26 min |
| Tuesday | 73% | 31 min |
| Wednesday | 75% | 21 min |
| Thursday | 72% | 28 min |
| Friday | 72% | 31 min |
| Saturdaybest | 78% | 22 min |
| Sunday | 74% | 21 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft37%
- Airline operations34%
- National airspace system25%
- Weather5%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from MHT to DCA delayed?
- 26% of MHT–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 26 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from MHT to DCA?
- Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (87% on-time), while departures around 1 p.m. have the worst (62%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from MHT to DCA?
- The scheduled MHT–DCA flight time averages 1h 53m over 406 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 26% of the time.
- How often are MHT to DCA flights cancelled?
- 5.2% 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 MHT to DCA?
- February 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 49% of arrivals on time. The best was November 2024 at 92%. If your dates are flexible, that 43-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 2,490 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.