Best Time to Fly ORD to DCA: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Chicago O'Hare International → Ronald Reagan Washington National
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
7,042 flights were scheduled from Chicago (ORD) to Washington (DCA) in the last 12 months, and 69.9% of those that flew arrived on time, 7.8 points below the US average of 77.6%.
Envoy Air was the most punctual of the 5 airlines on the route at 83.5%, while SkyWest Airlines trailed at 60.0%.
October has been the best month (80% on time) and Friday the weakest day of the week (66%).
3.0% of flights were cancelled, versus 1.8% nationally.
ORD 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Envoy Air | 83.5% | 46 min | 2.3% | 171 |
| United Airlines | 71.3% | 70 min | 2.1% | 3,390 |
| Republic Airways | 69.3% | 74 min | 4.5% | 1,115 |
| American Airlines | 67.3% | 91 min | 3.6% | 2,270 |
| SkyWest Airlines | 60.0% | 96 min | 6.2% | 96 |
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly ORD to DCA
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 13,594 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5am–6am | 80.0% | 2.4% | 41 |
| 6am–7am | 87.2% | 2.0% | 1,301 |
| 7am–8am | 88.4% | 0.9% | 872 |
| 8am–9am | 82.1% | 2.0% | 1,094 |
| 9am–10am | 77.6% | 1.9% | 885 |
| 10am–11am | 83.5% | 1.5% | 611 |
| 11am–12pm | 69.0% | 1.8% | 1,308 |
| 12pm–1pm | 68.0% | 0.9% | 811 |
| 1pm–2pm | 62.0% | 2.2% | 667 |
| 2pm–3pm | 65.3% | 1.9% | 753 |
| 3pm–4pm | 71.1% | 2.2% | 805 |
| 4pm–5pm | 64.6% | 3.5% | 957 |
| 5pm–6pm | 61.5% | 4.1% | 368 |
| 6pm–7pm | 57.3% | 2.5% | 824 |
| 7pm–8pm | 60.5% | 4.2% | 1,276 |
| 8pm–9pm | 63.4% | 7.0% | 618 |
| 9pm–10pm | 67.5% | 4.2% | 403 |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on ORD 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) | 66.8% | -6.0 pts | 5.9% | 237 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 78.5% | +5.6 pts | 0.7% | 450 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 65.0% | -7.9 pts | 4.1% | 2,423 |
| All other days | 72.9% | — | 2.2% | 10,484 |
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).