Raleigh/Durham (RDU) to Washington (DCA): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
The biggest risk when flying RDU to DCA isn't a late arrival — it's not departing at all. 4.4% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled, several times the typical US rate. When flights do go, 67% land on time, below the national average of 78%. American Airlines has been the safer pick, arriving on time 79% of the time.
- On-time
- 67%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 26 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 4.4%
- Flights/day
- 5.5
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 18m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 227 mi
Best airline from RDU to DCA
5 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlinesmost reliable | 79% | 24 min | 2.3% | 427 |
| Envoy Air | 74% | 18 min | 3.7% | 728 |
| Endeavor Air | 65% | 20 min | 3.4% | 468 |
| Republic Airways | 65% | 24 min | 4.2% | 1,346 |
| PSA Airlines | 64% | 34 min | 5.8% | 1,535 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from RDU to DCA
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (93% on-time); avoid 9 p.m. departures (35%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 69% | 25 min |
| Tuesday | 70% | 24 min |
| Wednesday | 64% | 23 min |
| Thursday | 62% | 32 min |
| Friday | 65% | 29 min |
| Saturdaybest | 80% | 17 min |
| Sunday | 67% | 30 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft44%
- Airline operations20%
- National airspace system29%
- Weather8%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from RDU to DCA delayed?
- 33% of RDU–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 26 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from RDU to DCA?
- American Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 79%, based on 427 flights. 5 airlines flew RDU–DCA frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from RDU to DCA?
- Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (93% on-time), while departures around 9 p.m. have the worst (35%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from RDU to DCA?
- The scheduled RDU–DCA flight time averages 1h 18m over 227 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 33% of the time.
- How often are RDU to DCA flights cancelled?
- 4.4% 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 RDU to DCA?
- July 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 47% of arrivals on time. The best was January 2025 at 81%. If your dates are flexible, that 35-point gap is worth planning around.
Explore related pages
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Based on 4,505 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.