Philadelphia (PHL) to Washington (IAD): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Philadelphia (PHL) to Washington (IAD) is a thinner route than most in this dataset — 211 departures over the past year, roughly 4 a week — so treat these numbers as indicative rather than definitive. Of the flights that did operate, 87% arrived on time, comfortably above the national average of 78%. Cancellations are the bigger caveat: 4.2% of scheduled flights never departed.
- On-time
- 87%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 7 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 4.2%
- Flights/day
- 0.58
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 9m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 135 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from PHL to IAD
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (94% on-time); avoid 8 p.m. departures (79%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 84% | 10 min |
| Tuesday | 90% | 4 min |
| Wednesday | 91% | 3 min |
| Thursday | 83% | 10 min |
| Friday | 83% | 8 min |
| Saturdaybest | 92% | 6 min |
| Sunday | 87% | 7 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft25%
- Airline operations24%
- National airspace system50%
- Weather2%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from PHL to IAD delayed?
- 14% of PHL–IAD 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 7 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from PHL to IAD?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (94% on-time), while departures around 8 p.m. have the worst (79%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from PHL to IAD?
- The scheduled PHL–IAD flight time averages 1h 9m over 135 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 14% of the time.
- How often are PHL to IAD flights cancelled?
- 4.2% 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 PHL to IAD?
- Wednesday flights have the best record at 91% on-time. Day-of-week differences on this route are modest.
Explore related pages
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Other ways to fly to Washington (IAD)
Related guides
Based on 216 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.