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Route on-time record

DCA to ORD: most on-time flights and the best time to fly

Washington (Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport) to Chicago (Chicago O'Hare International Airport). 6,922 nonstop flights in Jun 2025 to May 2026, 74% arrived within 15 minutes and 3.4% were cancelled. The most reliable flight number was United 1793 at 6:30 AM.

Flying on a specific date? We’ll adjust for the month, the weekday and the forecast.

DCA → ORD

Washington to Chicago: 6,922 nonstop flights a year

On time (12 months)

74%

Cancelled

3.4%

avg delay 23 min

Best time to leave

Before 9 AM

88% on time vs 58% 6 to 9 PM

Most reliable airline

Envoy

75% chance on time

Check DCA to ORD fares

Lowest nonstop fare seen in the next two months: $137 (American 4516 on 2026-10-18). Fares open on our travel partner (Aviasales). Pick the flight number you chose here.

Most reliable nonstop flights

Ranked by the chance the flight operates and arrives within 15 minutes of schedule, from Jun 2025 to May 2026 records.

  1. #1 · United 1793

    6:30 AM → 7:46 AM2h 16m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.

    90%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    92%
    Cancelled
    1.4%
    Avg arrival delay
    6 min
    • Arrived on time 92% of the time (359 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 88% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 58%).
    • Departs outside DCA's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started).

    Strong track record · 359 flights

    Find United 1793 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  2. #2 · United 2201

    10:30 AM → 11:51 AM2h 21m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as United 595; its record covers all of them.

    89%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    91%
    Cancelled
    2.2%
    Avg arrival delay
    7 min
    • Arrived on time 91% of the time (355 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Departs outside DCA's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started).

    Strong track record · 355 flights

    Find United 2201 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  3. #3 · Envoy 3620 · sold as American Eagle

    6:45 AM → 8:20 AM2h 35m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-06.

    85%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    86%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    12 min
    • Arrived on time 86% of the time (21 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 88% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 58%).
    • Departs outside DCA's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started).
    • Short track record (21 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.

    Limited track record · 21 flights

    Find 6:45 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  4. #4 · United 1061

    8:20 AM → 9:41 AM2h 21m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as United 351; its record covers all of them.

    84%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    88%
    Cancelled
    1.7%
    Avg arrival delay
    12 min
    • Arrived on time 88% of the time (58 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 88% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 58%).
    • Departs outside DCA's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started).
    • Short track record (58 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.

    Limited track record · 58 flights

    Find United 1061 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  5. #5 · American 2304

    1:45 PM → 3:09 PM2h 24m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.

    83%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    88%
    Cancelled
    4.8%
    Avg arrival delay
    9 min
    • Arrived on time 88% of the time (217 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Cancelled 4.8% of the time (11 of 228).
    • Departs inside DCA's trouble window: 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
    • Lands inside ORD's trouble window: 44% of its 243 ground stops and delay programs started between 2 PM and 8 PM.

    Strong track record · 217 flights

    Find American 2304 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  6. #6 · United 441

    7:30 AM → 8:47 AM2h 17m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.

    82%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    84%
    Cancelled
    2.1%
    Avg arrival delay
    11 min
    • Arrived on time 84% of the time (93 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 88% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 58%).
    • Departs outside DCA's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started).

    Moderate track record · 93 flights

    Find United 441 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  7. #7 · American 523

    10:13 AM → 11:32 AM2h 19m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.

    81%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    70%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    45 min
    • Arrived on time 70% of the time (10 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Departs outside DCA's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started).
    • 84% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.
    • Short track record (10 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.

    Limited track record · 10 flights

    Find American 523 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  8. #8 · American 489

    11:35 AM → 12:55 PM2h 20m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as American 1061; its record covers all of them.

    80%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    83%
    Cancelled
    1.3%
    Avg arrival delay
    15 min
    • Arrived on time 83% of the time (146 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Departs outside DCA's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started).

    Moderate track record · 146 flights

    Find American 489 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  9. #9 · United 1057

    11:57 AM → 1:15 PM2h 18m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as United 374; its record covers all of them.

    80%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    85%
    Cancelled
    1.3%
    Avg arrival delay
    25 min
    • Arrived on time 85% of the time (78 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Departs outside DCA's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started).

    Moderate track record · 78 flights

    Find United 1057 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  10. #10 · Republic 4360 · sold as American Eagle, Delta Connection or United Express

    8:24 AM → 9:54 AM2h 30m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as Republic 3533; its record covers all of them.

    79%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    81%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    9 min
    • Arrived on time 81% of the time (31 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Never cancelled in 31 scheduled flights.
    • Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 88% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 58%).
    • Departs outside DCA's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started).

    Limited track record · 31 flights

    Find 8:24 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales

Airlines on this route

Season-adjusted chance of operating and arriving on time.

  • Envoy Air (sold as American Eagle)75%

    171 flights · 81% on time as flown · 4.1% cancel

  • American Airlines72%

    2,322 flights · 75% on time as flown · 4.0% cancel

  • United Airlines72%

    3,385 flights · 73% on time as flown · 2.2% cancel

  • SkyWest Airlines (sold as United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle or Alaska)71%

    49 flights · 74% on time as flown · 4.0% cancel

  • Republic Airways (sold as American Eagle, Delta Connection or United Express)70%

    995 flights · 75% on time as flown · 5.4% cancel

On time by departure time

All airlines, scheduled local departure, Jun 2025 to May 2026.

  • Before 9 AM88%

    1,593 flights · avg delay 9 min

  • 9 AM to noon83%

    1,124 flights · avg delay 16 min

  • Noon to 3 PM80%

    1,453 flights · avg delay 19 min

  • 3 to 6 PM60%

    1,357 flights · avg delay 36 min

  • 6 to 9 PM58%

    1,202 flights · avg delay 38 min

Best day: Saturday (83%). Worst: Friday (76%).

Smarter routing

Nearby airports that run more on time

  • DCA → MDW 75% chance on time

    Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Chicago Midway International Airport · 2,104 flights a year · 15 mi from your airports · yours: 72%

    Rank flightsFares

  • IAD → ORD 74% chance on time

    Washington Dulles International Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport · 2,024 flights a year · 23 mi from your airports · yours: 72%

    Rank flightsFares

  • BWI → MDW 74% chance on time

    Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport to Chicago Midway International Airport · 1,852 flights a year · 45 mi from your airports · yours: 72%

    Rank flightsFares

On time by month

All airlines, Jun 2023 to May 2026. Several years per month, so one stormy season doesn't define a month. Travel-month estimates use this seasonal pattern.

J
80
F
82
M
80
A
79
M
74
J
74
J
70
A
77
S
82
O
85
N
84
D
83

What delays this route

  • Late-arriving aircraft41%
  • Air traffic control and airport volume34%
  • Airline (crew, maintenance, boarding)16%
  • Severe weather9%

Share of delay minutes by the cause airlines report to the US DOT.

Historical odds, not a guarantee. Built from the US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics on-time reports (Jun 2025 to May 2026), FAA ground stop and delay program advisories, and 20 years of airport weather observations. Covers US airlines that report to the DOT; schedules are flights operated recently, so confirm times when you book. ATIS Alerts is not affiliated with any airline. Fares are what Aviasales travelers saw in recent searches (USD, one way, 1 adult), not live quotes; the partner site shows the current price. Fare links go to our travel partner and may earn us a commission at no cost to you. Affiliate disclosure

DCA to ORD questions

What time of day is best to fly DCA to ORD?
Before 9 AM: 88% of flights arrived on time, against 58% for departures 6 to 9 PM. Later flights inherit delays from earlier ones, so the first departures of the day usually run best.
Which airline is most on time from DCA to ORD?
Envoy, with a season-adjusted 75% chance of operating and arriving on time over 171 flights. The adjustment compares each airline with what the route did in the months it flew, so a carrier that skipped a stormy month gets no free credit.
What is the worst month for delays on DCA to ORD?
July (70% on time); the best was October (85%), averaged over Jun 2023 to May 2026.
Is this a prediction for my flight?
No. These are historical odds from the US DOT on-time reports, FAA advisories and airport weather records. Check your flight status and the FAA delay board on the day you fly.

More routes from DCA

Live status: FAA delays and ground stops