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Route on-time record

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

Chicago (Chicago O'Hare International Airport) to Washington (Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport). 6,918 nonstop flights in Jun 2025 to May 2026, 69% arrived within 15 minutes and 3.0% were cancelled. The most reliable flight number was Envoy 4066 at 7:51 AM.

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

ORD → DCA

Chicago to Washington: 6,918 nonstop flights a year

On time (12 months)

69%

Cancelled

3.0%

avg delay 27 min

Best time to leave

Before 9 AM

84% on time vs 54% 6 to 9 PM

Most reliable airline

Envoy

77% chance on time

Check ORD to DCA fares

Lowest nonstop fare seen in the next two months: $147 (American 489 on 2026-11-04). 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 · Envoy 4066 · sold as American Eagle

    7:51 AM → 10:59 AM2h 08m nonstop

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

    91%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    97%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    1 min
    • Arrived on time 97% of the time (37 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Never cancelled in 37 scheduled flights.
    • Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 84% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 54%).
    • Departs outside ORD's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 44% of its 243 ground stops and delay programs started).

    Limited track record · 37 flights

    Find 7:51 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  2. #2 · United 1077

    6:00 AM → 9:59 AM1h 56m nonstop

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

    90%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    92%
    Cancelled
    1.6%
    Avg arrival delay
    4 min
    • Arrived on time 92% of the time (303 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 84% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 54%).
    • Departs outside ORD's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 44% of its 243 ground stops and delay programs started).

    Strong track record · 303 flights

    Find United 1077 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  3. #3 · United 1381

    8:00 AM → 10:59 AM1h 59m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as United 1705; its record covers all of them.

    84%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    87%
    Cancelled
    2.2%
    Avg arrival delay
    9 min
    • Arrived on time 87% of the time (177 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 84% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 54%).
    • Departs outside ORD's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 44% of its 243 ground stops and delay programs started).

    Moderate track record · 177 flights

    Find United 1381 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  4. #4 · United 2066

    10:00 AM → 1:00 PM2h 00m nonstop

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

    83%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    94%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    3 min
    • Arrived on time 94% of the time (18 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Departs outside ORD's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 44% of its 243 ground stops and delay programs started).
    • Lands inside DCA's trouble window: 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
    • Short track record (18 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.

    Limited track record · 18 flights

    Find United 2066 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  5. #5 · United 482

    7:00 AM → 8:56 AM1h 56m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as United 1892; its record covers all of them.

    82%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    83%
    Cancelled
    1.2%
    Avg arrival delay
    9 min
    • Arrived on time 83% of the time (82 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 84% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 54%).
    • Departs outside ORD's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 44% of its 243 ground stops and delay programs started).

    Moderate track record · 82 flights

    Find United 482 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  6. #6 · Envoy 3749 · sold as American Eagle

    8:08 AM → 11:10 AM2h 02m nonstop

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

    81%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    80%
    Cancelled
    1.3%
    Avg arrival delay
    11 min
    • Arrived on time 80% of the time (71 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 84% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 54%).
    • Departs outside ORD's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 44% of its 243 ground stops and delay programs started).

    Moderate track record · 71 flights

    Find 8:08 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  7. #7 · American 523

    6:08 AM → 9:05 AM1h 57m nonstop

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

    78%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    80%
    Cancelled
    3.5%
    Avg arrival delay
    14 min
    • Arrived on time 80% of the time (302 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Cancelled 3.5% of the time (11 of 313).
    • Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 84% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 54%).
    • Departs outside ORD's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 44% of its 243 ground stops and delay programs started).

    Strong track record · 302 flights

    Find American 523 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  8. #8 · Republic 3666 · sold as American Eagle, Delta Connection or United Express

    10:00 AM → 1:10 PM2h 10m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-29.

    77%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    80%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    13 min
    • Arrived on time 80% of the time (66 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Never cancelled in 66 scheduled flights.
    • Departs outside ORD's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 44% of its 243 ground stops and delay programs started).
    • Lands inside DCA's trouble window: 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.

    Moderate track record · 66 flights

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

  9. #9 · American 2965

    7:13 AM → 10:07 AM1h 54m nonstop

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

    76%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    73%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    77 min
    • Arrived on time 73% of the time (11 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 84% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 54%).
    • Departs outside ORD's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 44% of its 243 ground stops and delay programs started).
    • 76% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.

    Limited track record · 11 flights

    Find American 2965 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  10. #10 · United 490

    9:00 AM → 11:59 AM1h 59m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as United 307; its record covers all of them.

    75%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    78%
    Cancelled
    3.2%
    Avg arrival delay
    15 min
    • Arrived on time 78% of the time (179 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Cancelled 3.2% of the time (6 of 185).
    • Departs outside ORD's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 44% of its 243 ground stops and delay programs started).

    Moderate track record · 179 flights

    Find United 490 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)77%

    171 flights · 84% on time as flown · 2.6% cancel

  • United Airlines69%

    3,386 flights · 71% on time as flown · 1.7% cancel

  • SkyWest Airlines (sold as United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle or Alaska)65%

    49 flights · 67% on time as flown · 3.8% cancel

  • Republic Airways (sold as American Eagle, Delta Connection or United Express)64%

    991 flights · 67% on time as flown · 4.4% cancel

  • American Airlines62%

    2,321 flights · 65% on time as flown · 4.1% cancel

On time by departure time

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

  • Before 9 AM84%

    1,718 flights · avg delay 12 min

  • 9 AM to noon71%

    1,567 flights · avg delay 21 min

  • Noon to 3 PM61%

    1,042 flights · avg delay 28 min

  • 3 to 6 PM64%

    1,027 flights · avg delay 42 min

  • 6 to 9 PM54%

    1,341 flights · avg delay 41 min

  • After 9 PM66%

    223 flights · avg delay 30 min

Best day: Saturday (79%). Worst: Friday (70%).

Smarter routing

Nearby airports that run more on time

  • MDW → BWI 77% chance on time

    Chicago Midway International Airport to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport · 1,856 flights a year · 45 mi from your airports · yours: 66%

    Rank flightsFares

  • ORD → IAD 72% chance on time

    Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Washington Dulles International Airport · 2,021 flights a year · 23 mi from your airports · yours: 66%

    Rank flightsFares

  • ORD → BWI 70% chance on time

    Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport · 2,694 flights a year · 30 mi from your airports · yours: 66%

    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
72
M
70
A
75
M
68
J
71
J
65
A
70
S
75
O
82
N
81
D
77

What delays this route

  • Late-arriving aircraft42%
  • Air traffic control and airport volume29%
  • Airline (crew, maintenance, boarding)23%
  • Severe weather6%

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

ORD to DCA questions

What time of day is best to fly ORD to DCA?
Before 9 AM: 84% of flights arrived on time, against 54% 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 ORD to DCA?
Envoy, with a season-adjusted 77% 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 ORD to DCA?
July (65% on time); the best was October (82%), 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 ORD

Live status: FAA delays and ground stops