57% of flights from Raleigh to Washington arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is worse than the typical U.S. route. The 9 a.m. departures ran on time 83% of the time; the 7 p.m. ones 39%. Most reliable airline: American Airlines (58%). 20% 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 RDU → DCA: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 52% of the time. About 1 in 7 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 38 three hours or more; 5.2% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early57%
- 15–30 min late13%
- 30–60 min late11%
- 1–2 hours late8.5%
- 2–3 hours late2.9%
- 3+ hours late2.7%
- Diverted0.2%
- Cancelled5.2%
Share of all 3,017 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 | 2,015 | 58% | 5.8% | +3 min | 14.0% | +83 min | PSA Airlines 44%, Republic Airways 24%, Envoy 23%, American Airlines 9% |
| Delta Air Lines | 1,002 | 55% | 4.1% | +6 min | 14.4% | +66 min | Endeavor Air |
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 RDU). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
By airline and hour
| Departs | American Airlines | Delta Air Lines |
|---|---|---|
| 6 a.m. | 76% | 79% |
| 9 a.m. | 83% | — |
| 10 a.m. | 70% | — |
| 11 a.m. | 75% | — |
| 1 p.m. | 56% | — |
| 3 p.m. | 44% | 41% |
| 5 p.m. | 40% | — |
| 6 p.m. | 47% | — |
| 7 p.m. | — | 41% |
| 8 p.m. | 39% | — |
Last flight of the day
On RDU → DCA, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 8.2% of the time, against 4.4% for its earlier flights (1.9× as often). It arrived 3+ hours late 2.8% of the time (earlier flights: 2.7%). 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 | 8:04 p.m. | 8.8% | 3.6% | 5.1% | first flight 6:00 a.m. |
| Delta Air Lines | 7:50 p.m. | 7.5% | 2.0% | 2.3% | 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.
If you need to be in DCA tonight, book an earlier flight so there's a backup if it's cancelled.
By month
Each calendar month pooled over 2023–2026. Best: September (73%). Worst: July (54%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 470 | 58% | 7.0% |
| Tuesday | 462 | 56% | 3.9% |
| Wednesday | 458 | 57% | 2.8% |
| Thursday | 448 | 52% | 2.9% |
| Friday | 454 | 50% | 7.0% |
| Saturday | 289 | 75% | 4.8% |
| Sunday | 436 | 58% | 8.0% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: weather 84 · air traffic/airport 53 · airline 21
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AA 2985 | 6:00 a.m. | 120 | 84% | 2.5% | −14 min | American Airlines |
| DL 5006 | 6:00 a.m. | 346 | 79% | 1.5% | −9 min | Endeavor Air |
| DL 5310 | 3:43 p.m. | 341 | 41% | 3.2% | +19 min | Endeavor Air |
| DL 5198 | 7:59 p.m. | 314 | 43% | 8.0% | +18 min | Endeavor Air |
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 26, 2026 | 9 | 0% | 8 |
| Mar 12, 2026 | 9 | 0% | 0 |
| Jan 25, 2026 | 9 | 0% | 9 |
| Mar 13, 2026 | 9 | 0% | 5 |
| Mar 16, 2026 | 9 | 0% | 1 |
Nearby airport alternatives
Other ways to make the same trip, using airports within 60 miles of Raleigh or Washington. RDU → IAD has been 28 points more reliable.
| Route | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| RDU → DCA (this route) | 3,017 | 57% | 5.2% |
| RDU → IAD Raleigh-Durham to Washington Dulles | 1,441 | 85% | 1.3% |
| RDU → BWI Raleigh-Durham to Baltimore/Washington | 1,763 | 83% | 2.2% |
Questions
How often are flights from RDU to DCA on time?
57% of 3,017 scheduled flights from Raleigh/Durham, NC to Washington, DC arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 5.2% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly RDU to DCA?
Flights scheduled to leave at 9 a.m. were the most reliable (83% on time). The 7 p.m. departures were the least (39%).
Which airline is most on time from RDU to DCA?
American Airlines: 58% of its 2,015 flights on the route arrived on time. Delta Air Lines: 55%.
What month has the most delays from RDU to DCA?
July (54% on time). The best month is September (73%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from RDU to DCA more likely to be cancelled?
Yes. Each airline's last RDU–DCA flight of the day was cancelled 8.2% of the time over the past year, against 4.4% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- DCA → RDU (return)
- Raleigh-Durham (RDU) delays by hour
- Flights into Washington Reagan National (DCA)
- American Airlines on-time record
- Delta Air Lines 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.