Providence (PVD) to Washington (DCA): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Delays are only half the story on PVD–DCA: 4.2% of its scheduled flights were outright cancelled, well above the US norm, so a backup plan matters more here than on most routes. When flights do go, 76% land on time, below the national average of 78%. Southwest Airlines has been the safer pick, arriving on time 82% of the time.
- On-time
- 76%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 21 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 4.2%
- Flights/day
- 6.7
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 38m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 356 mi
Best airline from PVD to DCA
5 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Airlinesmost reliable | 82% | 14 min | 1.8% | 1,353 |
| Republic Airways | 81% | 13 min | 2.4% | 877 |
| American Airlines | 75% | 20 min | 1.4% | 704 |
| Envoy Air | 74% | 16 min | 12.5% | 104 |
| PSA Airlines | 69% | 29 min | 7.0% | 2,062 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from PVD to DCA
Aim for departures around 7 a.m. (93% on-time); avoid 7 p.m. departures (55%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 75% | 21 min |
| Tuesday | 77% | 18 min |
| Wednesday | 76% | 20 min |
| Thursday | 76% | 19 min |
| Friday | 73% | 24 min |
| Saturdaybest | 81% | 16 min |
| Sunday | 74% | 23 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft53%
- Airline operations17%
- National airspace system29%
- Weather2%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from PVD to DCA delayed?
- 24% of PVD–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 21 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from PVD to DCA?
- Southwest Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 82%, based on 1,353 flights. 5 airlines flew PVD–DCA frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from PVD to DCA?
- Departures around 7 a.m. have the best record (93% on-time), while departures around 7 p.m. have the worst (55%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from PVD to DCA?
- The scheduled PVD–DCA flight time averages 1h 38m over 356 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 24% of the time.
- How often are PVD to DCA flights cancelled?
- 4.2% 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 PVD to DCA?
- February 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 58% of arrivals on time. The best was November 2024 at 94%. If your dates are flexible, that 36-point gap is worth planning around.
Explore related pages
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Based on 5,100 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.