78% of flights from Washington to Charlotte arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is about the typical U.S. route. The 9 a.m. departures ran on time 89% of the time; the 8 p.m. ones 70%. Most reliable airline: American Airlines (81%). 10% 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 IAD → CLT: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 54% of the time. About 1 in 15 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 61 three hours or more; 2.5% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early78%
- 15–30 min late7.1%
- 30–60 min late5.3%
- 1–2 hours late3.3%
- 2–3 hours late1.8%
- 3+ hours late1.6%
- Diverted0.3%
- Cancelled2.5%
Share of all 2,762 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 | 1,503 | 81% | 2.7% | −12 min | 6.7% | +106 min | PSA Airlines 64%, American Airlines 36% |
| United Airlines | 1,259 | 75% | 2.3% | −8 min | 6.8% | +68 min | Mesa Airlines 55%, Republic Airways 36%, 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 IAD). 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. | 85% | — |
| 8 a.m. | — | 73% |
| 9 a.m. | 89% | — |
| noon | — | 79% |
| 1 p.m. | 77% | — |
| 2 p.m. | 82% | — |
| 5 p.m. | 68% | 71% |
| 8 p.m. | 70% | — |
| 10 p.m. | — | 76% |
Last flight of the day
On IAD → CLT, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 3.4% of the time, against 2.2% for its earlier flights (1.6× as often). It arrived 3+ hours late 2.6% of the time (earlier flights: 1.3%). 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 | 8:22 p.m. | 4.7% | 2.8% | 2.1% | first flight 6:10 a.m. |
| United Airlines | 10:24 p.m. | 2.2% | 2.5% | 2.4% | first flight 8:15 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.
If you need to be in CLT tonight, book an earlier flight so there's a backup if it's cancelled.
By month
Each calendar month pooled over 2023–2026. Best: October (87%). Worst: July (68%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 420 | 77% | 2.1% |
| Tuesday | 368 | 83% | 2.5% |
| Wednesday | 369 | 83% | 1.4% |
| Thursday | 400 | 77% | 1.3% |
| Friday | 414 | 81% | 1.9% |
| Saturday | 366 | 77% | 4.1% |
| Sunday | 425 | 71% | 4.5% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: weather 47 · air traffic/airport 15 · 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 6239 | 12:43 p.m. | 173 | 76% | 1.2% | −5 min | Mesa Airlines |
| AA 5447 | 4:46 p.m. | 137 | 63% | 3.6% | −9 min | PSA Airlines |
| UA 6209 | 5:20 p.m. | 161 | 63% | 5.6% | −4 min | Mesa Airlines |
| UA 6234 | 10:24 p.m. | 125 | 64% | 3.2% | −2 min | Mesa Airlines |
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 8, 2025 | 7 | 0% | 2 |
| Jan 27, 2026 | 7 | 0% | 2 |
| Jan 25, 2026 | 7 | 0% | 7 |
| Jan 26, 2026 | 7 | 14% | 5 |
| Jan 31, 2026 | 5 | 20% | 4 |
Nearby airport alternatives
Other ways to make the same trip, using airports within 60 miles of Washington or Charlotte. None has been clearly more reliable than IAD → CLT.
| Route | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| IAD → CLT (this route) | 2,762 | 78% | 2.5% |
| BWI → CLT Baltimore/Washington to Charlotte Douglas | 2,948 | 79% | 1.8% |
| DCA → CLT Washington Reagan National to Charlotte Douglas | 2,677 | 76% | 2.9% |
Questions
How often are flights from IAD to CLT on time?
78% of 2,762 scheduled flights from Washington, DC to Charlotte, NC 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 IAD to CLT?
Flights scheduled to leave at 9 a.m. were the most reliable (89% on time). The 8 p.m. departures were the least (70%).
Which airline is most on time from IAD to CLT?
American Airlines: 81% of its 1,503 flights on the route arrived on time. United Airlines: 75%.
What month has the most delays from IAD to CLT?
July (68% on time). The best month is October (87%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from IAD to CLT more likely to be cancelled?
Yes. Each airline's last IAD–CLT flight of the day was cancelled 3.4% of the time over the past year, against 2.2% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- CLT → IAD (return)
- Washington Dulles (IAD) delays by hour
- Flights into Charlotte Douglas (CLT)
- 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.