Philadelphia (PHL) to Washington (DCA): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Philadelphia (PHL) to Washington (DCA) effectively runs on two schedules. In October 2024, 91% of arrivals were on time; in November 2025 that fell to 34% — a 57-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 73% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (86% vs 59%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 73%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 23 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 2.8%
- Flights/day
- 2.4
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 11m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 120 mi
Best airline from PHL to DCA
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republic Airwaysmost reliable | 84% | 9 min | 2.7% | 1,032 |
| PSA Airlines | 65% | 34 min | 3.0% | 1,172 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from PHL to DCA
Aim for departures around 9 a.m. (95% on-time); avoid 8 p.m. departures (47%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 72% | 29 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 78% | 22 min |
| Wednesday | 77% | 18 min |
| Thursday | 71% | 23 min |
| Friday | 69% | 25 min |
| Saturday | 77% | 21 min |
| Sunday | 69% | 20 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft38%
- Airline operations25%
- National airspace system26%
- Weather12%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from PHL to DCA delayed?
- 27% of PHL–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 23 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from PHL to DCA?
- Republic Airways has the best on-time record on this route at 84%, based on 1,032 flights. 2 airlines flew PHL–DCA frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from PHL to DCA?
- Departures around 9 a.m. have the best record (95% on-time), while departures around 8 p.m. have the worst (47%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from PHL to DCA?
- The scheduled PHL–DCA flight time averages 1h 11m over 120 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 27% of the time.
- How often are PHL to DCA flights cancelled?
- 2.8% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05, slightly above the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from PHL to DCA?
- November 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 34% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 91%. If your dates are flexible, that 57-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 2,217 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.