San Diego (SAN) to Washington (DCA): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
San Diego (SAN) to Washington (DCA) is a thinner route than most in this dataset — 364 departures over the past year, roughly 7 a week — so treat these numbers as indicative rather than definitive. Of the flights that did operate, 65% arrived on time, noticeably below the national average of 78%.
- On-time
- 65%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 20 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.1%
- Flights/day
- 1.00
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 5h 10m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 2,276 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from SAN to DCA
Aim for departures around 12 p.m. (67% on-time); avoid 2 p.m. departures (53%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 65% | 20 min |
| Tuesday | 75% | 16 min |
| Wednesday | 60% | 21 min |
| Thursday | 57% | 26 min |
| Friday | 58% | 21 min |
| Saturdaybest | 76% | 15 min |
| Sunday | 61% | 22 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft24%
- Airline operations9%
- National airspace system63%
- Weather4%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from SAN to DCA delayed?
- 35% of SAN–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 20 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from SAN to DCA?
- Departures around 12 p.m. have the best record (67% on-time), while departures around 2 p.m. have the worst (53%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from SAN to DCA?
- The scheduled SAN–DCA flight time averages 5h 10m over 2,276 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 35% of the time.
- How often are SAN to DCA flights cancelled?
- 1.1% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from SAN to DCA?
- August 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 48% of arrivals on time. The best was April 2026 at 87%. If your dates are flexible, that 38-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 440 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.