78% of flights from Charlotte to Washington arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is about the typical U.S. route. The 6 a.m. departures ran on time 91% of the time; the 10 p.m. ones 63%. Most reliable airline: United Airlines (82%). 11% of flights arrived more than an hour late or not at all.
How late?
The on-time rate treats a flight 20 minutes late the same as one 5 hours late. Here's the split for CLT → IAD: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 48% of the time. About 1 in 12 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 51 three hours or more; 2.5% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early78%
- 15–30 min late6.0%
- 30–60 min late5.1%
- 1–2 hours late4.5%
- 2–3 hours late1.6%
- 3+ hours late2.0%
- Diverted0.0%
- Cancelled2.5%
Share of all 2,763 scheduled flights, past 12 months, by arrival time against schedule.
By airline
| Airline | Flights | On time | Cancelled | Typical arrival | 1h+ late | Avg when late | Operated by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | 1,504 | 75% | 2.7% | −8 min | 8.2% | +73 min | PSA Airlines 64%, American Airlines 36% |
| United Airlines | 1,259 | 82% | 2.3% | −10 min | 7.9% | +100 min | Mesa Airlines 55%, Republic Airways 37%, GoJet 6%, United Airlines 3% |
Airline = the name on the ticket. Regional flights (e.g. "Delta Connection") count under the ticketing airline, and the operator is listed.
Best time of day to fly
On-time rate by scheduled departure hour (local time at CLT). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
By airline and hour
| Departs | American Airlines | United Airlines |
|---|---|---|
| 6 a.m. | — | 91% |
| 7 a.m. | 90% | — |
| 10 a.m. | — | 85% |
| 11 a.m. | 81% | — |
| noon | 79% | — |
| 2 p.m. | — | 78% |
| 3 p.m. | 66% | — |
| 6 p.m. | 64% | — |
| 7 p.m. | — | 79% |
| 10 p.m. | 63% | — |
Last flight of the day
On CLT → IAD, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 2.9% of the time, against 2.4% for its earlier flights, about the same. It arrived 3+ hours late 2.5% of the time (earlier flights: 1.8%). It matters more than the numbers suggest. Miss an earlier flight and there's another one that evening; miss the last one and you're usually waiting until morning.
| Airline | Last departure | Last: cancelled | Last: 3h+ late | Earlier: cancelled | Next morning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | 10:45 p.m. | 1.9% | 2.2% | 3.0% | first flight 7:20 a.m. |
| United Airlines | 7:44 p.m. | 3.8% | 2.7% | 1.7% | first flight 6:00 a.m. |
Last flight = the airline's last scheduled departure on this route that day, on days it flies the route at least twice; past 12 months. Times are typical scheduled times over the latest three months.
By month
Each calendar month pooled over 2023–2026. Best: October (88%). Worst: July (66%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 425 | 77% | 2.8% |
| Tuesday | 368 | 79% | 2.2% |
| Wednesday | 366 | 87% | 0.8% |
| Thursday | 399 | 76% | 1.3% |
| Friday | 414 | 82% | 1.7% |
| Saturday | 366 | 76% | 4.6% |
| Sunday | 425 | 72% | 4.2% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: weather 49 · air traffic/airport 13 · airline 8
Month by month
Flight numbers on this route
Regular flights with at least 120 scheduled trips in the past year. Sorted by departure time.
| Flight | Departs | Flights | On time | Cancelled | Typical arrival | Operated by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UA 6279 | 6:00 a.m. | 124 | 88% | 2.4% | −11 min | Mesa Airlines |
| AA 5447 | 2:35 p.m. | 168 | 67% | 3.6% | −5 min | PSA Airlines |
| UA 6203 | 2:53 p.m. | 173 | 73% | 1.2% | −7 min | Mesa Airlines |
| UA 3998 | 7:44 p.m. | 159 | 74% | 5.7% | −5 min | Mesa Airlines |
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 25, 2026 | 7 | 0% | 7 |
| Mar 16, 2026 | 7 | 0% | 2 |
| Feb 1, 2026 | 7 | 0% | 3 |
| Jan 31, 2026 | 5 | 0% | 5 |
| Nov 8, 2025 | 7 | 14% | 2 |
Nearby airport alternatives
Other ways to make the same trip, using airports within 60 miles of Charlotte or Washington. None has been clearly more reliable than CLT → IAD.
| Route | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| CLT → IAD (this route) | 2,763 | 78% | 2.5% |
| CLT → BWI Charlotte Douglas to Baltimore/Washington | 2,947 | 75% | 1.7% |
| CLT → DCA Charlotte Douglas to Washington Reagan National | 2,682 | 65% | 2.6% |
Questions
How often are flights from CLT to IAD on time?
78% of 2,763 scheduled flights from Charlotte, NC to Washington, DC arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 2.5% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly CLT to IAD?
Flights scheduled to leave at 6 a.m. were the most reliable (91% on time). The 10 p.m. departures were the least (63%).
Which airline is most on time from CLT to IAD?
United Airlines: 82% of its 1,259 flights on the route arrived on time. American Airlines: 75%.
What month has the most delays from CLT to IAD?
July (66% on time). The best month is October (88%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from CLT to IAD more likely to be cancelled?
Not much. Each airline's last CLT–IAD flight of the day was cancelled 2.9% of the time over the past year, against 2.4% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- IAD → CLT (return)
- Charlotte Douglas (CLT) delays by hour
- Flights into Washington Dulles (IAD)
- American Airlines on-time record
- United Airlines on-time record
- Connecting off this flight? Check the risk
Domestic flights by the airlines that report to the U.S. DOT, plus their regional partners. "On time" means arriving less than 15 minutes after schedule; cancelled and diverted flights count as not on time. Past performance is a guide, not a forecast. Method.