Best Time to Fly DCA to BUF: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Ronald Reagan Washington National → Buffalo Niagara International
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
1,134 flights were scheduled from Washington (DCA) to Buffalo (BUF) in the last 12 months, and 64.3% of those that flew arrived on time, 13.3 points below the US average of 77.6%.
Envoy Air was the most punctual of the 3 airlines on the route at 65.2%, while Republic Airways trailed at 64.0%.
September has been the best month (80% on time) and Friday the weakest day of the week (60%).
4.8% of flights were cancelled, versus 1.8% nationally.
DCA to BUF 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Envoy Air | 65.2% | 62 min | 5.8% | 189 |
| PSA Airlines | 64.0% | 88 min | 5.3% | 696 |
| Republic Airways | 64.0% | 58 min | 2.9% | 243 |
| American Airlines | Limited data | 6 | ||
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly DCA to BUF
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 2,435 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9am–10am | 74.4% | 1.6% | 127 |
| 10am–11am | 75.8% | 3.5% | 537 |
| 11am–12pm | 86.8% | 0.6% | 168 |
| 12pm–1pm | 74.0% | 5.5% | 163 |
| 1pm–2pm | 65.8% | 0.0% | 38 |
| 2pm–3pm | 60.0% | 5.4% | 74 |
| 3pm–4pm | 61.3% | 4.7% | 624 |
| 6pm–7pm | Limited data | 4 | |
| 7pm–8pm | Limited data | 15 | |
| 8pm–9pm | 77.4% | 3.1% | 64 |
| 9pm–10pm | Limited data | 6 | |
| 10pm–11pm | 50.8% | 10.2% | 615 |
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 BUF
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) | 62.2% | -5.0 pts | 0.0% | 37 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 72.7% | +5.6 pts | 4.9% | 81 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 60.0% | -7.2 pts | 9.7% | 434 |
| All other days | 67.2% | — | 4.5% | 1,883 |
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).