Best Time to Fly SFO to DCA: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
San Francisco International → Ronald Reagan Washington National
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
1,090 flights were scheduled from San Francisco (SFO) to Washington (DCA) in the last 12 months, and 79.4% of those that flew arrived on time, 1.8 points above the US average of 77.6%.
United Airlines was the most punctual of the 2 airlines on the route at 80.0%, while Alaska Airlines trailed at 78.3%.
April has been the best month (88% on time) and Thursday the weakest day of the week (75%).
0.6% of flights were cancelled, versus 1.8% nationally.
SFO 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlines | 80.0% | 55 min | 0.6% | 727 |
| Alaska Airlines | 78.3% | 53 min | 0.8% | 363 |
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly SFO to DCA
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 1,985 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8am–9am | 85.4% | 0.4% | 989 |
| 9am–10am | 76.7% | 0.9% | 463 |
| 12pm–1pm | 81.4% | 0.0% | 45 |
| 1pm–2pm | 73.3% | 0.8% | 364 |
| 2pm–3pm | 60.5% | 0.0% | 124 |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on SFO 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) | 90.9% | +10.1 pts | 0.0% | 33 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 85.3% | +4.5 pts | 0.0% | 75 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 71.3% | -9.5 pts | 1.4% | 354 |
| All other days | 80.8% | — | 0.4% | 1,523 |
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).