Best Time to Fly SFO to IAD: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
San Francisco International → Washington Dulles International
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
2,730 flights were scheduled from San Francisco (SFO) to Washington (IAD) in the last 12 months, and 83.8% of those that flew arrived on time, 6.1 points above the US average of 77.6%.
United Airlines was the most punctual of the 2 airlines on the route at 84.2%, while Alaska Airlines trailed at 48.6%.
February has been the best month (90% on time) and Wednesday the weakest day of the week (81%).
0.7% of flights were cancelled, versus 1.8% nationally.
SFO to IAD 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 | 84.2% | 61 min | 0.7% | 2,693 |
| Alaska Airlines | 48.6% | 41 min | 0.0% | 37 |
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly SFO to IAD
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 5,702 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12am–1am | 85.2% | 0.0% | 54 |
| 1am–2am | Limited data | 1 | |
| 6am–7am | 97.1% | 0.3% | 342 |
| 7am–8am | 91.5% | 0.8% | 119 |
| 8am–9am | 81.1% | 1.3% | 776 |
| 9am–10am | Limited data | 8 | |
| 10am–11am | 80.2% | 0.0% | 310 |
| 11am–12pm | 79.6% | 0.2% | 517 |
| 12pm–1pm | 78.6% | 0.8% | 237 |
| 1pm–2pm | 80.3% | 0.5% | 672 |
| 2pm–3pm | 84.7% | 1.0% | 100 |
| 3pm–4pm | Limited data | 20 | |
| 4pm–5pm | 83.5% | 0.3% | 607 |
| 5pm–6pm | Limited data | 16 | |
| 9pm–10pm | 87.0% | 0.4% | 767 |
| 10pm–11pm | 78.1% | 0.5% | 574 |
| 11pm–12am | 84.1% | 0.7% | 582 |
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 IAD
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) | 87.6% | +2.5 pts | 0.0% | 113 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 79.9% | -5.2 pts | 0.0% | 249 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 73.9% | -11.3 pts | 0.6% | 998 |
| All other days | 85.2% | — | 0.6% | 4,342 |
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).