San Diego (SAN) to Washington (IAD): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
San Diego (SAN) to Washington (IAD) effectively runs on two schedules. In October 2025, 95% of arrivals were on time; in July 2026 that fell to 69% — a 26-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 84% on-time against a national 78%.
- On-time
- 84%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 12 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.5%
- Flights/day
- 3.8
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 4h 58m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 2,253 mi
Best airline from SAN to IAD
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlinesmost reliable | 85% | 12 min | 0.6% | 2,227 |
| Alaska Airlines | 80% | 11 min | 0.4% | 754 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from SAN to IAD
Aim for departures around 1 p.m. (93% on-time); avoid 10 a.m. departures (68%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 82% | 11 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 88% | 8 min |
| Wednesday | 86% | 9 min |
| Thursday | 82% | 12 min |
| Friday | 81% | 19 min |
| Saturday | 85% | 9 min |
| Sunday | 79% | 14 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft30%
- Airline operations34%
- National airspace system29%
- Weather7%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from SAN to IAD delayed?
- 17% of SAN–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 12 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from SAN to IAD?
- United Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 85%, based on 2,227 flights. 2 airlines flew SAN–IAD frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from SAN to IAD?
- Departures around 1 p.m. have the best record (93% on-time), while departures around 10 a.m. have the worst (68%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from SAN to IAD?
- The scheduled SAN–IAD flight time averages 4h 58m over 2,253 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 17% of the time.
- How often are SAN to IAD flights cancelled?
- 0.5% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-07 and 2026-07, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from SAN to IAD?
- July 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 69% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2025 at 95%. If your dates are flexible, that 26-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 2,981 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.