Best Time to Fly DCA to BNA: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Ronald Reagan Washington National → Nashville International
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
Over the last 12 months, 76.4% of Washington (DCA) to Nashville (BNA) flights arrived on time (4,354 scheduled flights). That is 1.2 points below the national average of 77.6%.
Republic Airways was the most punctual of the 5 airlines on the route at 82.9%, while PSA Airlines trailed at 59.9%.
October has been the best month (84% on time) and Friday the weakest day of the week (71%).
2.7% of flights were cancelled, versus 1.8% nationally.
DCA to BNA 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republic Airways | 82.9% | 63 min | 2.0% | 1,831 |
| Envoy Air | 75.9% | 59 min | 1.4% | 139 |
| Southwest Airlines | 75.1% | 57 min | 2.0% | 1,677 |
| American Airlines | 65.1% | 78 min | 4.8% | 316 |
| PSA Airlines | 59.9% | 78 min | 7.9% | 391 |
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly DCA to BNA
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 8,561 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5am–6am | Limited data | 1 | |
| 6am–7am | 94.5% | 1.4% | 813 |
| 7am–8am | 85.8% | 4.1% | 536 |
| 8am–9am | 81.6% | 0.0% | 49 |
| 9am–10am | 73.7% | 2.0% | 151 |
| 10am–11am | 85.0% | 1.6% | 1,670 |
| 11am–12pm | 85.0% | 1.9% | 361 |
| 12pm–1pm | 71.2% | 0.7% | 148 |
| 1pm–2pm | 70.1% | 2.9% | 596 |
| 2pm–3pm | 68.8% | 3.4% | 356 |
| 3pm–4pm | 73.2% | 1.4% | 1,112 |
| 4pm–5pm | 69.4% | 3.4% | 117 |
| 5pm–6pm | 57.7% | 8.6% | 660 |
| 6pm–7pm | 66.1% | 4.2% | 238 |
| 7pm–8pm | 64.8% | 4.5% | 714 |
| 8pm–9pm | 72.8% | 4.3% | 831 |
| 9pm–10pm | 78.6% | 1.4% | 142 |
| 10pm–11pm | 67.8% | 10.6% | 66 |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on DCA to BNA
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% | -2.2 pts | 0.0% | 145 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 81.4% | +4.1 pts | 0.0% | 258 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 71.4% | -6.0 pts | 5.9% | 1,432 |
| All other days | 77.3% | — | 2.7% | 6,726 |
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).