Best Time to Fly LAX to DCA: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Los Angeles International → Ronald Reagan Washington National
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
Over the last 12 months, 80.3% of Los Angeles (LAX) to Washington (DCA) flights arrived on time (1,454 scheduled flights). That is 2.7 points above the national average of 77.6%.
American Airlines was the most punctual of the 3 airlines on the route at 81.5%, while Alaska Airlines trailed at 77.7%.
October has been the best month (86% on time) and Friday the weakest day of the week (74%).
1.4% of flights were cancelled, versus 1.8% nationally.
LAX to DCA 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | 81.5% | 66 min | 1.2% | 728 |
| Delta Air Lines | 80.6% | 99 min | 2.2% | 362 |
| Alaska Airlines | 77.7% | 66 min | 0.8% | 364 |
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly LAX to DCA
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 2,910 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7am–8am | 84.8% | 1.5% | 824 |
| 8am–9am | 84.4% | 0.8% | 630 |
| 11am–12pm | 78.7% | 0.6% | 177 |
| 12pm–1pm | 74.5% | 1.4% | 804 |
| 1pm–2pm | 68.7% | 0.8% | 474 |
| 3pm–4pm | 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 LAX to DCA
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) | 88.5% | +9.1 pts | 0.0% | 52 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 85.6% | +6.2 pts | 0.0% | 118 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 73.7% | -5.7 pts | 1.8% | 493 |
| All other days | 79.4% | — | 1.1% | 2,247 |
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).