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Route on-time record

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

Washington (Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport) to Norfolk (Norfolk International Airport). 1,055 nonstop flights in Jun 2025 to May 2026, 64% arrived within 15 minutes and 4.8% were cancelled. The most reliable flight number was PSA 5389 at 9:09 AM.

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

DCA → ORF

Washington to Norfolk: 1,055 nonstop flights a year

On time (12 months)

64%

Cancelled

4.8%

avg delay 28 min

Best time to leave

Before 9 AM

72% on time vs 55% after 9 PM

Most reliable airline

Republic

67% chance on time

Check DCA to ORF fares

Lowest nonstop fare seen in the next two months: $116 (American 5601 on 2026-10-21). 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 · PSA 5389 · sold as American Eagle

    9:09 AM → 10:16 AM1h 07m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-20.

    70%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    82%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    17 min
    • Arrived on time 82% of the time (44 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Never cancelled in 44 scheduled flights.
    • Departs outside DCA's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started).
    • 81% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.

    Limited track record · 44 flights

    Find 9:09 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  2. #2 · PSA 5388 · sold as American Eagle

    12:35 PM → 1:38 PM1h 03m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-20.

    66%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    73%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    21 min
    • Arrived on time 73% of the time (44 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Never cancelled in 44 scheduled flights.
    • Departs outside DCA's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started).
    • 69% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.

    Limited track record · 44 flights

    Find 12:35 PM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  3. #3 · PSA 5338 · sold as American Eagle

    3:59 PM → 5:09 PM1h 10m nonstop

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

    64%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    78%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    34 min
    • Arrived on time 78% of the time (9 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Departs inside DCA's trouble window: 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
    • Short track record (9 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.

    Limited track record · 9 flights

    Find 3:59 PM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  4. #4 · PSA 5330 · sold as American Eagle

    9:45 AM → 10:49 AM1h 04m nonstop

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

    61%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    64%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    23 min
    • Arrived on time 64% of the time (11 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).
    • 70% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.
    • Short track record (11 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.

    Limited track record · 11 flights

    Find 9:45 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  5. #5 · PSA 5337 · sold as American Eagle

    1:05 PM → 2:10 PM1h 05m nonstop

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

    59%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    61%
    Cancelled
    1.5%
    Avg arrival delay
    38 min
    • Arrived on time 61% of the time (135 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Departs inside DCA's trouble window: 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
    • 59% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.

    Moderate track record · 135 flights

    Find 1:05 PM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  6. #6 · PSA 5162 · sold as American Eagle

    8:59 AM → 10:04 AM1h 05m nonstop

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

    54%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    52%
    Cancelled
    7.3%
    Avg arrival delay
    45 min
    • Arrived on time 52% of the time (101 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Cancelled 7.3% of the time (8 of 110).
    • Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 72% on time; After 9 PM: 55%).
    • 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 · 101 flights

    Find 8:59 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  7. #7 · PSA 5662 · sold as American Eagle

    10:00 PM → 11:02 PM1h 06m nonstop

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

    53%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    59%
    Cancelled
    9.6%
    Avg arrival delay
    33 min
    • Arrived on time 59% of the time (253 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Cancelled 9.6% of the time (27 of 280).
    • Leaves in this route's least on-time window (After 9 PM: 55% on time; Before 9 AM: 72%).
    • 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 · 253 flights

    Find 10:00 PM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales

Airlines on this route

Season-adjusted chance of operating and arriving on time.

  • Republic Airways (sold as American Eagle, Delta Connection or United Express)67%

    38 flights · 81% on time as flown · 4.4% cancel

  • PSA Airlines (sold as American Eagle)60%

    1,013 flights · 63% on time as flown · 4.9% cancel

On time by departure time

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

  • Before 9 AM72%

    224 flights · avg delay 15 min

  • 9 AM to noon67%

    120 flights · avg delay 23 min

  • Noon to 3 PM64%

    189 flights · avg delay 32 min

  • 3 to 6 PM61%

    133 flights · avg delay 30 min

  • 6 to 9 PM65%

    94 flights · avg delay 34 min

  • After 9 PM55%

    295 flights · avg delay 35 min

Best day: Saturday (80%). Worst: Friday (68%).

Smarter routing

Nearby airports that run more on time

  • IAD → ORF 79% chance on time

    Washington Dulles International Airport to Norfolk International Airport · 624 flights a year · 23 mi from your airports · yours: 61%

    Rank flightsFares

  • BWI → ORF 78% chance on time

    Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport to Norfolk International Airport · 1,531 flights a year · 30 mi from your airports · yours: 61%

    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
68
F
66
M
74
A
74
M
68
J
74
J
68
A
75
S
79
O
77
N
78
D
73

What delays this route

  • Late-arriving aircraft56%
  • Airline (crew, maintenance, boarding)24%
  • Air traffic control and airport volume11%
  • 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 ORF questions

What time of day is best to fly DCA to ORF?
Before 9 AM: 72% of flights arrived on time, against 55% for departures after 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 ORF?
Republic, with a season-adjusted 67% chance of operating and arriving on time over 38 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 ORF?
February (66% on time); the best was September (79%), 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