Best Time to Fly DCA to ORD: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Ronald Reagan Washington National → Chicago O'Hare International
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
7,048 flights were scheduled from Washington (DCA) to Chicago (ORD) in the last 12 months, and 74.9% of those that flew arrived on time, 2.7 points below the US average of 77.6%.
Envoy Air was the most punctual of the 5 airlines on the route at 80.9%, while SkyWest Airlines trailed at 62.9%.
October has been the best month (83% on time) and Friday the weakest day of the week (72%).
3.4% of flights were cancelled, versus 1.8% nationally.
DCA to ORD on-time performance by airline
Last 12 months. Airlines with fewer than 30 completed flights are marked “limited data”.
| Airline | On time | Avg delay when late | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Envoy Air | 80.9% | 81 min | 4.7% | 171 |
| Republic Airways | 75.7% | 76 min | 5.7% | 1,120 |
| United Airlines | 74.9% | 83 min | 2.5% | 3,389 |
| American Airlines | 74.5% | 90 min | 3.5% | 2,272 |
| SkyWest Airlines | 62.9% | 86 min | 7.3% | 96 |
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly DCA to ORD
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 13,603 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5am–6am | 92.2% | 4.5% | 67 |
| 6am–7am | 91.3% | 2.3% | 1,548 |
| 7am–8am | 87.7% | 3.7% | 946 |
| 8am–9am | 88.5% | 1.9% | 717 |
| 9am–10am | 81.2% | 2.9% | 719 |
| 10am–11am | 90.0% | 2.0% | 1,014 |
| 11am–12pm | 85.1% | 1.8% | 715 |
| 12pm–1pm | 85.7% | 1.7% | 658 |
| 1pm–2pm | 79.2% | 2.5% | 944 |
| 2pm–3pm | 78.9% | 1.8% | 1,024 |
| 3pm–4pm | 71.5% | 3.5% | 1,014 |
| 4pm–5pm | 76.3% | 0.0% | 148 |
| 5pm–6pm | 56.5% | 2.9% | 1,293 |
| 6pm–7pm | 54.5% | 2.1% | 814 |
| 7pm–8pm | 66.0% | 4.6% | 851 |
| 8pm–9pm | 66.8% | 3.9% | 832 |
| 9pm–10pm | 77.4% | 5.4% | 56 |
| 10pm–11pm | 73.3% | 9.9% | 242 |
| 11pm–12am | Limited data | 1 | |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on DCA to ORD
On-time arrivals during holiday periods compared with all other days, last 24 months.
| Period | On time | vs other days | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving week (Tue before to Mon after) | 70.8% | -7.9 pts | 5.9% | 237 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 85.4% | +6.7 pts | 0.7% | 449 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 70.2% | -8.6 pts | 4.5% | 2,427 |
| All other days | 78.8% | — | 2.5% | 10,490 |
Monthly on-time trend
On-time arrival % each month, with the 12-month US average for reference.
What causes delays on this route
Share of reported delay minutes, last 12 months (BTS cause categories).