Best Time to Fly SEA to DCA: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Seattle/Tacoma International → Ronald Reagan Washington National
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
Over the last 12 months, 82.2% of Seattle (SEA) to Washington (DCA) flights arrived on time (1,092 scheduled flights). That is 4.6 points above the national average of 77.6%.
Among 2 airlines, Delta Air Lines led with 91.8% on time and Alaska Airlines was last with 77.4%.
Over 24 months, Saturday was the most reliable day (90% on time) and February the worst month (67%).
The cancellation rate was 1.5% (US average 1.8%).
SEA 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Lines | 91.8% | 120 min | 2.8% | 364 |
| Alaska Airlines | 77.4% | 53 min | 0.8% | 728 |
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly SEA to DCA
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 1,966 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7am–8am | 91.7% | 2.4% | 509 |
| 8am–9am | 83.5% | 0.8% | 729 |
| 1pm–2pm | 67.8% | 0.8% | 595 |
| 2pm–3pm | 68.5% | 2.3% | 132 |
| 4pm–5pm | 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 SEA 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) | 84.4% | +3.7 pts | 0.0% | 33 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 93.2% | +12.5 pts | 1.3% | 75 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 72.7% | -8.0 pts | 2.0% | 355 |
| All other days | 80.7% | — | 1.2% | 1,503 |
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).