Best Time to Fly DCA to PHL: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Ronald Reagan Washington National → Philadelphia International
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
790 flights were scheduled from Washington (DCA) to Philadelphia (PHL) in the last 12 months, and 64.1% of those that flew arrived on time, 13.5 points below the US average of 77.6%.
Among 2 airlines, Republic Airways led with 81.7% on time and PSA Airlines was last with 58.5%.
Over 24 months, Tuesday was the most reliable day (75% on time) and February the worst month (57%).
The cancellation rate was 2.7% (US average 1.8%).
DCA to PHL 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 | 81.7% | 45 min | 1.6% | 189 |
| PSA Airlines | 58.5% | 82 min | 3.0% | 601 |
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly DCA to PHL
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 2,096 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6am–7am | 84.1% | 1.6% | 424 |
| 7am–8am | Limited data | 1 | |
| 8am–9am | Limited data | 5 | |
| 10am–11am | 97.7% | 2.2% | 45 |
| 11am–12pm | 88.2% | 2.6% | 192 |
| 12pm–1pm | 71.9% | 0.0% | 32 |
| 1pm–2pm | 73.0% | 1.6% | 256 |
| 2pm–3pm | 48.3% | 3.3% | 60 |
| 3pm–4pm | 61.7% | 0.6% | 176 |
| 4pm–5pm | 50.8% | 2.7% | 441 |
| 5pm–6pm | 53.5% | 7.3% | 109 |
| 6pm–7pm | Limited data | 1 | |
| 7pm–8pm | Limited data | 4 | |
| 8pm–9pm | Limited data | 13 | |
| 9pm–10pm | Limited data | 5 | |
| 10pm–11pm | 75.7% | 9.4% | 331 |
| 11pm–12am | Limited data | 1 | |
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 PHL
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) | 68.4% | -3.5 pts | 0.0% | 38 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 71.6% | -0.4 pts | 1.2% | 82 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 62.6% | -9.3 pts | 7.6% | 330 |
| All other days | 72.0% | — | 2.9% | 1,646 |
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).