FlightRecord

Syracuse (SYR) to Washington (DCA): On-Time Performance

Data through May 2026

The biggest risk when flying SYR to DCA isn't a late arrival — it's not departing at all. 4.9% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled, several times the typical US rate. When flights do go, 72% land on time, below the national average of 78%. Envoy Air has been the safer pick, arriving on time 82% of the time.

On-time
72%
arrived <15 min late
Avg delay
28 min
completed flights
Cancelled
4.9%
Flights/day
2.8
last 12 months
Duration
1h 30m
scheduled
Distance
298 mi

Best airline from SYR to DCA

4 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.

AirlineOn-timeAvg delayCancelledFlights
Envoy Airmost reliable82%10 min1.3%160
Republic Airways76%19 min3.1%488
American Airlines75%21 min2.0%395
PSA Airlines67%36 min7.2%1,158

Monthly on-time trend

Monthly on-time percentage for SYR to DCA flights50%75%100%June 2024: 86% on-time (100 flights)86Jun 2024July 2024: 66% on-time (88 flights)66August 2024: 76% on-time (88 flights)76September 2024: 92% on-time (89 flights)92Sep 2024October 2024: 93% on-time (92 flights)93November 2024: 81% on-time (87 flights)81December 2024: 69% on-time (85 flights)69Dec 2024January 2025: 71% on-time (111 flights)71February 2025: 45% on-time (105 flights)45March 2025: 66% on-time (119 flights)66Mar 2025April 2025: 71% on-time (116 flights)71May 2025: 74% on-time (92 flights)74June 2025: 80% on-time (86 flights)80Jun 2025July 2025: 67% on-time (88 flights)67August 2025: 83% on-time (92 flights)83September 2025: 77% on-time (86 flights)77Sep 2025October 2025: 74% on-time (88 flights)74November 2025: 52% on-time (85 flights)52December 2025: 67% on-time (74 flights)67Dec 2025January 2026: 60% on-time (82 flights)60February 2026: 49% on-time (80 flights)49March 2026: 63% on-time (88 flights)63Mar 2026April 2026: 72% on-time (89 flights)72May 2026: 75% on-time (91 flights)75

Best time to fly from SYR to DCA

Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (86% on-time); avoid 4 p.m. departures (39%).

On-time percentage by scheduled departure hour, SYR to DCA5 a.m.: 86% on-time (494 flights)56 a.m.: 85% on-time (176 flights)611 a.m.: 79% on-time (207 flights)1112 p.m.: 69% on-time (482 flights)121 p.m.: 76% on-time (42 flights)132 p.m.: 61% on-time (129 flights)144 p.m.: 39% on-time (40 flights)165 p.m.: 59% on-time (620 flights)17scheduled departure hour

By day of week

DayOn-timeAvg delay
Monday70%32 min
Tuesday71%19 min
Wednesday71%31 min
Thursday70%29 min
Friday67%35 min
Saturdaybest83%12 min
Sunday72%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 aircraft46%
  • Airline operations25%
  • National airspace system17%
  • Weather12%

Frequently asked questions

How often are flights from SYR to DCA delayed?
28% of SYR–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 28 minutes.
Which airline is most reliable from SYR to DCA?
Envoy Air has the best on-time record on this route at 82%, based on 160 flights. 4 airlines flew SYR–DCA frequently enough to compare in this period.
What is the best time of day to fly from SYR to DCA?
Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (86% on-time), while departures around 4 p.m. have the worst (39%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
How long is the flight from SYR to DCA?
The scheduled SYR–DCA flight time averages 1h 30m over 298 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 28% of the time.
How often are SYR to DCA flights cancelled?
4.9% 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 SYR to DCA?
February 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 45% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 93%. If your dates are flexible, that 48-point gap is worth planning around.

Based on 2,201 flights, 2024-062026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.