Raleigh/Durham (RDU) to Washington (DCA): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
The biggest risk when flying RDU to DCA isn't a late arrival — it's not departing at all. 3.8% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled, several times the typical US rate. When flights do go, 68% land on time, below the national average of 78%. American Airlines has been the safer pick, arriving on time 80% of the time.
- On-time
- 68%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 24 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 3.8%
- Flights/day
- 5.4
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 18m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 227 mi
Best airline from RDU to DCA
5 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlinesmost reliable | 80% | 24 min | 1.7% | 404 |
| Envoy Air | 75% | 17 min | 3.6% | 704 |
| Endeavor Air | 66% | 21 min | 3.1% | 547 |
| PSA Airlines | 65% | 29 min | 4.6% | 1,411 |
| Republic Airways | 65% | 23 min | 3.8% | 1,333 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from RDU to DCA
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (91% on-time); avoid 9 p.m. departures (35%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 70% | 21 min |
| Tuesday | 71% | 20 min |
| Wednesday | 65% | 21 min |
| Thursday | 64% | 30 min |
| Friday | 65% | 30 min |
| Saturdaybest | 81% | 15 min |
| Sunday | 68% | 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 system30%
- Weather6%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from RDU to DCA delayed?
- 32% of RDU–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 24 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from RDU to DCA?
- American Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 80%, based on 404 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 (91% 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 32% of the time.
- How often are RDU to DCA flights cancelled?
- 3.8% 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 RDU to DCA?
- October 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 49% of arrivals on time. The best was January 2025 at 81%. If your dates are flexible, that 33-point gap is worth planning around.
Explore related pages
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Based on 4,400 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.