Skip to content

All Products

Aviation Intelligence

Alerts & Airspace

Free Pilot Tools & Widgets

RC Aviation

Games & Learning

Weather Research & More

Pilot Resources

My Airports

Your shortcuts, saved on this device. Search to add an airport.

No airports saved yet. Add the fields you visit most.

Ask ATIS

Route on-time record

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

Washington (Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport) to Phoenix (Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport). 1,088 nonstop flights in Jun 2025 to May 2026, 82% arrived within 15 minutes and 1.5% were cancelled. The most reliable flight number was American 2006 at 7:36 AM.

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

Find me the most reliable flights fromtoonreturning(optional)

DCA → PHX

Washington to Phoenix: 1,088 nonstop flights a year

On time (12 months)

82%

Cancelled

1.5%

avg delay 20 min

Best time to leave

Before 9 AM

91% on time vs 73% 3 to 6 PM

Most reliable airline

American

81% chance on time

Check DCA to PHX fares

Lowest nonstop fare seen in the next two months: $146 (American 637 on 2026-11-22). 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 2006

    7:36 AM → 9:36 AM5h 00m nonstop

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

    90%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    91%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    9 min
    • Arrived on time 91% of the time (136 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Never cancelled in 138 scheduled flights.
    • Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 91% on time; 3 to 6 PM: 73%).
    • 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 · 136 flights

    Find American 2006 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  2. #2 · American 3279

    7:05 AM → 9:23 AM5h 18m nonstop

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

    90%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    93%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    3 min
    • Arrived on time 93% of the time (44 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Never cancelled in 44 scheduled flights.
    • Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 91% on time; 3 to 6 PM: 73%).
    • 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 · 44 flights

    Find American 3279 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  3. #3 · American 1218

    10:05 AM → 12:18 PM5h 13m nonstop

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

    81%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    82%
    Cancelled
    0.9%
    Avg arrival delay
    31 min
    • Arrived on time 82% of the time (329 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).
    • 64% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.

    Strong track record · 329 flights

    Find American 1218 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  4. #4 · American 2034

    5:30 PM → 7:30 PM5h 00m nonstop

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

    80%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    100%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    3 min
    • Arrived on time 100% of the time (11 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Leaves in this route's least on-time window (3 to 6 PM: 73% on time; Before 9 AM: 91%).
    • Departs inside DCA's trouble window: 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
    • Lands inside PHX's trouble window: 45% of its 47 ground stops and delay programs started between 2 PM and 8 PM.

    Limited track record · 11 flights

    Find American 2034 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  5. #5 · American 1657

    5:15 PM → 7:29 PM5h 14m nonstop

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

    73%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    74%
    Cancelled
    2.3%
    Avg arrival delay
    14 min
    • Arrived on time 74% of the time (43 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Leaves in this route's least on-time window (3 to 6 PM: 73% on time; Before 9 AM: 91%).
    • Departs inside DCA's trouble window: 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
    • Lands inside PHX's trouble window: 45% of its 47 ground stops and delay programs started between 2 PM and 8 PM.

    Limited track record · 43 flights

    Find American 1657 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

Airlines on this route

Season-adjusted chance of operating and arriving on time.

  • American Airlines81%

    1,088 flights · 82% on time as flown · 1.5% cancel

On time by departure time

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

  • Before 9 AM91%

    365 flights · avg delay 9 min

  • 9 AM to noon82%

    365 flights · avg delay 30 min

  • 3 to 6 PM73%

    358 flights · avg delay 21 min

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
83
F
87
M
91
A
84
M
82
J
84
J
81
A
86
S
88
O
88
N
86
D
92

What delays this route

  • Late-arriving aircraft50%
  • Airline (crew, maintenance, boarding)29%
  • Air traffic control and airport volume15%
  • Severe weather5%

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 PHX…

DCA to PHX questions

What time of day is best to fly DCA to PHX?
Before 9 AM: 91% of flights arrived on time, against 73% for departures 3 to 6 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 PHX?
American, with a season-adjusted 81% chance of operating and arriving on time over 1,088 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 PHX?
July (81% on time); the best was December (92%), 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

Most on-time flights from DCA on every route →

Live status: FAA delays and ground stops