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Route on-time record

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

Washington (Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport) to West Palm Beach (Palm Beach International Airport). 1,783 nonstop flights in Jun 2025 to May 2026, 73% arrived within 15 minutes and 1.7% were cancelled. The most reliable flight number was American 2176 at 6:50 AM.

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

DCA → PBI

Washington to West Palm Beach: 1,783 nonstop flights a year

On time (12 months)

73%

Cancelled

1.7%

avg delay 21 min

Best time to leave

Before 9 AM

86% on time vs 63% 6 to 9 PM

Most reliable airline

American

76% chance on time

Check DCA to PBI fares

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 · American 2176

    6:50 AM → 9:33 AM2h 43m nonstop

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

    88%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    92%
    Cancelled
    3.2%
    Avg arrival delay
    9 min
    • Arrived on time 92% of the time (150 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Cancelled 3.2% of the time (5 of 155).
    • Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 86% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 63%).
    • 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 · 150 flights

    Find American 2176 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  2. #2 · American 2497

    2:30 PM → 5:08 PM2h 38m nonstop

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

    83%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    95%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    5 min
    • Arrived on time 95% of the time (43 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Never cancelled in 44 scheduled flights.
    • 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 (43 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.

    Limited track record · 43 flights

    Find American 2497 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  3. #3 · American 1844

    6:20 PM → 9:00 PM2h 40m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-19.

    78%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    89%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    12 min
    • Arrived on time 89% of the time (37 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Never cancelled in 37 scheduled flights.
    • Leaves in this route's least on-time window (6 to 9 PM: 63% on time; Before 9 AM: 86%).
    • Departs inside DCA's trouble window: 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.

    Limited track record · 37 flights

    Find American 1844 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  4. #4 · American 2281

    11:59 AM → 2:30 PM2h 31m nonstop

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

    77%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    91%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    12 min
    • Arrived on time 91% 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).
    • Lands inside PBI's trouble window: 84% of its 31 ground stops and delay programs started between 11 AM and 5 PM.
    • 83% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.

    Limited track record · 11 flights

    Find American 2281 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  5. #5 · JetBlue 2433

    6:00 AM → 8:27 AM2h 27m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as JetBlue 823; its record covers all of them.

    77%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    79%
    Cancelled
    1.7%
    Avg arrival delay
    14 min
    • Arrived on time 79% of the time (281 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 86% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 63%).
    • 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 · 281 flights

    Find JetBlue 2433 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  6. #6 · Republic 4431 · sold as American Eagle, Delta Connection or United Express

    8:20 AM → 11:05 AM2h 45m nonstop

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

    77%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    82%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    4 min
    • Arrived on time 82% of the time (11 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 86% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 63%).
    • Departs outside DCA's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started).
    • Lands inside PBI's trouble window: 84% of its 31 ground stops and delay programs started between 11 AM and 5 PM.

    Limited track record · 11 flights

    Find 8:20 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  7. #7 · American 2472

    10:06 AM → 12:46 PM2h 40m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-20. Same departure also flew as American 3056; its record covers all of them.

    76%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    80%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    12 min
    • Arrived on time 80% of the time (74 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Never cancelled in 74 scheduled flights.
    • Departs outside DCA's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started).
    • Lands inside PBI's trouble window: 84% of its 31 ground stops and delay programs started between 11 AM and 5 PM.

    Moderate track record · 74 flights

    Find American 2472 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  8. #8 · American 1671

    2:49 PM → 5:32 PM2h 43m nonstop

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

    69%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    66%
    Cancelled
    1.9%
    Avg arrival delay
    18 min
    • Arrived on time 66% of the time (53 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 (53 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.

    Limited track record · 53 flights

    Find American 1671 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  9. #9 · JetBlue 633

    12:59 PM → 3:32 PM2h 33m nonstop

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

    65%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    82%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    30 min
    • Arrived on time 82% 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).
    • Lands inside PBI's trouble window: 84% of its 31 ground stops and delay programs started between 11 AM and 5 PM.
    • 81% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.

    Limited track record · 11 flights

    Find JetBlue 633 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  10. #10 · American 2355

    5:11 PM → 7:51 PM2h 40m nonstop

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

    64%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    63%
    Cancelled
    2.1%
    Avg arrival delay
    28 min
    • Arrived on time 63% of the time (186 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.

    Moderate track record · 186 flights

    Find American 2355 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

Airlines on this route

Season-adjusted chance of operating and arriving on time.

  • American Airlines76%

    1,026 flights · 77% on time as flown · 1.8% cancel

  • JetBlue66%

    720 flights · 67% on time as flown · 1.6% cancel

On time by departure time

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

  • Before 9 AM86%

    554 flights · avg delay 11 min

  • 9 AM to noon73%

    374 flights · avg delay 17 min

  • Noon to 3 PM66%

    371 flights · avg delay 26 min

  • 3 to 6 PM63%

    322 flights · avg delay 31 min

  • 6 to 9 PM63%

    162 flights · avg delay 37 min

Best day: Tuesday (82%). Worst: Thursday (71%).

Smarter routing

Nearby airports that run more on time

  • IAD → FLL 83% chance on time

    Washington Dulles International Airport to Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport · 742 flights a year · 65 mi from your airports · yours: 72%

    Rank flightsFares

  • IAD → PBI 80% chance on time

    Washington Dulles International Airport to Palm Beach International Airport · 334 flights a year · 23 mi from your airports · yours: 72%

    Rank flightsFares

  • BWI → PBI 76% chance on time

    Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport to Palm Beach International Airport · 1,233 flights a year · 30 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
74
F
75
M
72
A
81
M
77
J
74
J
75
A
75
S
80
O
83
N
80
D
71

What delays this route

  • Late-arriving aircraft49%
  • Airline (crew, maintenance, boarding)26%
  • Air traffic control and airport volume22%
  • Severe weather3%

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

Finding the most reliable connections from DCA to PBI…

DCA to PBI questions

What time of day is best to fly DCA to PBI?
Before 9 AM: 86% of flights arrived on time, against 63% 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 PBI?
American, with a season-adjusted 76% chance of operating and arriving on time over 1,026 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 PBI?
December (71% on time); the best was October (83%), 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