Is 45 minutes enough at IAD? 17% of inbound flights landed too late for it, allowing 30 minutes to reach the next gate. Book 70 minutes to keep the risk under 1 in 10, or 105 in July.
Separately, 1.9% of flights into IAD were cancelled or diverted (3.7% in July). That isn't a missed connection in the same sense: on one booking the airline rebooks you, though it can still cost you the day.
Check your exact itinerary through IAD →
Missed-connection risk by layover and month
Share of flights that landed at IAD too late for the connection (cancellations not included), pooled over 2023–2026. Read across your travel month.
| Layover | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 min | 25% | 20% | 22% | 18% | 22% | 24% | 29% | 24% | 17% | 15% | 17% | 25% | 21% |
| 50 min | 18% | 13% | 15% | 12% | 15% | 18% | 22% | 17% | 11% | 9% | 11% | 17% | 15% |
| 60 min | 14% | 9% | 12% | 8% | 12% | 14% | 17% | 13% | 8% | 6% | 8% | 13% | 12% |
| 75 min | 10% | 7% | 9% | 6% | 9% | 11% | 14% | 10% | 6% | 5% | 6% | 9% | 9% |
| 90 min | 8% | 5% | 7% | 5% | 7% | 9% | 11% | 8% | 5% | 4% | 5% | 7% | 7% |
| 120 min | 6% | 4% | 5% | 3% | 5% | 6% | 8% | 6% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 5% | 5% |
Counts flights that landed; cancelled and diverted inbound flights are reported separately above. Assumes 30 minutes to get off the plane and reach the next gate, and that the onward flight leaves on time. A terminal change or re-checking bags needs more.
Late in the day is riskier
Share of flights that would miss a 60-minute connection, by scheduled arrival time at IAD (past 12 months). Delays pile up through the day.
Riskiest flights in
| From | Flights | Miss 60 min |
|---|---|---|
| ALB Albany | 1,434 | 18% |
| BTV Burlington | 1,226 | 18% |
| LGA New York | 1,450 | 17% |
| EWR Newark | 1,826 | 17% |
| ATL Atlanta | 4,100 | 16% |
| DFW Dallas | 1,982 | 15% |
| DTW Detroit | 2,198 | 15% |
| ORD Chicago | 2,103 | 15% |
| PVD Providence | 1,157 | 14% |
| SYR Syracuse | 1,344 | 14% |
| CLT Charlotte | 2,763 | 14% |
| RIC Richmond | 1,390 | 13% |
Safest flights in
| From | Flights | Miss 60 min |
|---|---|---|
| PIT Pittsburgh | 1,455 | 7% |
| LAX Los Angeles | 2,461 | 7% |
| AUS Austin | 1,105 | 7% |
| SAN San Diego | 1,402 | 8% |
| IND Indianapolis | 1,360 | 8% |
| SEA Seattle | 1,822 | 8% |
| RDU Raleigh | 1,441 | 9% |
| CLE Cleveland | 1,450 | 9% |
| SAV Savannah | 1,144 | 9% |
| SCE State College | 1,170 | 9% |
| ORF Norfolk | 1,411 | 10% |
| TPA Tampa | 1,288 | 10% |
Last flights of the day from IAD
If your inbound runs late and you miss one of these, the next flight is usually the next morning. Typical last scheduled departure over the past three months:
| To | Last departure | Flights / day |
|---|---|---|
| BTV Burlington | 5:19 p.m. | 3.2 |
| TPA Tampa | 6:00 p.m. | 3.4 |
| SEA Seattle | 6:14 p.m. | 6.5 |
| MSP Minneapolis | 6:49 p.m. | 4.2 |
| DFW Dallas | 7:25 p.m. | 6.1 |
| SAN San Diego | 7:49 p.m. | 3.9 |
| LGA New York | 10:05 p.m. | 3.7 |
| DTW Detroit | 10:10 p.m. | 6.6 |
| BOS Boston | 10:10 p.m. | 4.6 |
| ALB Albany | 10:10 p.m. | 3.8 |
| RIC Richmond | 10:10 p.m. | 3.7 |
| TYS Knoxville | 10:10 p.m. | 4.1 |
| CMH Columbus | 10:15 p.m. | 3.9 |
| CLE Cleveland | 10:15 p.m. | 3.9 |
| IND Indianapolis | 10:16 p.m. | 3.8 |
| LAX Los Angeles | 10:20 p.m. | 7.3 |
| ORD Chicago | 10:20 p.m. | 6.9 |
| IAH Houston | 10:20 p.m. | 5.4 |
| SFO San Francisco | 10:21 p.m. | 7.1 |
| DEN Denver | 10:23 p.m. | 8.5 |
| CLT Charlotte | 10:24 p.m. | 8.2 |
| RDU Raleigh | 10:25 p.m. | 3.9 |
| BDL Hartford | 10:25 p.m. | 3.9 |
| SYR Syracuse | 10:25 p.m. | 4.1 |
| ATL Atlanta | 10:28 p.m. | 11.7 |
| EWR Newark | 10:29 p.m. | 4.8 |
| PIT Pittsburgh | 10:30 p.m. | 3.9 |
| MCO Orlando | 10:33 p.m. | 5.6 |
| ORF Norfolk | 10:35 p.m. | 3.9 |
| ROC Rochester | 10:37 p.m. | 3.5 |
Questions
Is 45 minutes enough for a connection at IAD?
Often, not always. Over the past year 17% of flights into Washington landed too late to leave 30 minutes to reach the next gate on a 45-minute layover. With 60 minutes it was 12%; with 90, 7%. Separately, 1.9% of inbound flights were cancelled or diverted; on one booking the airline rebooks you.
How long a layover do I need at IAD?
To keep the risk of a late inbound below 1 in 10, about 70 minutes on an average month and 105 minutes in July, the worst month. Add time if you change terminals or need to re-check bags.
An estimate from past arrival delays, not a guarantee. On one ticket, the airline will rebook you if you misconnect. On separate tickets you're on your own, so leave far more time. Method.