Best Time to Fly BNA to DCA: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Nashville International → Ronald Reagan Washington National
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
4,356 flights were scheduled from Nashville (BNA) to Washington (DCA) in the last 12 months, and 72.3% of those that flew arrived on time, 5.3 points below the US average of 77.6%.
American Airlines was the most punctual of the 5 airlines on the route at 75.8%, while PSA Airlines trailed at 66.8%.
October has been the best month (83% on time) and Friday the weakest day of the week (68%).
2.9% of flights were cancelled, versus 1.8% nationally.
BNA to DCA 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | 75.8% | 79 min | 4.8% | 316 |
| Republic Airways | 74.7% | 62 min | 2.7% | 1,832 |
| Envoy Air | 71.2% | 64 min | 5.7% | 140 |
| Southwest Airlines | 70.3% | 51 min | 1.5% | 1,678 |
| PSA Airlines | 66.8% | 110 min | 6.9% | 390 |
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly BNA to DCA
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 8,560 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5am–6am | 89.1% | 2.1% | 142 |
| 6am–7am | 79.6% | 2.9% | 1,073 |
| 7am–8am | 90.3% | 1.6% | 545 |
| 8am–9am | 92.8% | 2.3% | 299 |
| 9am–10am | 80.2% | 3.1% | 539 |
| 10am–11am | 86.0% | 1.2% | 514 |
| 11am–12pm | 76.8% | 0.7% | 605 |
| 12pm–1pm | 75.4% | 1.6% | 620 |
| 1pm–2pm | 64.1% | 4.0% | 252 |
| 2pm–3pm | 82.3% | 2.8% | 36 |
| 3pm–4pm | 65.3% | 6.1% | 749 |
| 4pm–5pm | 66.6% | 5.0% | 586 |
| 5pm–6pm | 68.6% | 3.8% | 907 |
| 6pm–7pm | 62.0% | 3.8% | 498 |
| 7pm–8pm | 60.6% | 8.0% | 739 |
| 8pm–9pm | 62.4% | 2.4% | 379 |
| 9pm–10pm | 66.2% | 0.0% | 77 |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on BNA to DCA
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) | 75.2% | +0.6 pts | 0.0% | 145 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 75.9% | +1.3 pts | 0.0% | 258 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 68.5% | -6.1 pts | 7.1% | 1,432 |
| All other days | 74.6% | — | 2.9% | 6,725 |
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).