Route on-time record
ORF to DCA: most on-time flights and the best time to fly
Norfolk (Norfolk International Airport) to Washington (Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport). 1,056 nonstop flights in Jun 2025 to May 2026, 66% arrived within 15 minutes and 4.0% were cancelled. The most reliable flight number was PSA 5520 at 6:00 AM.
Flying on a specific date? We’ll adjust for the month, the weekday and the forecast.
ORF → DCA
Norfolk to Washington: 1,056 nonstop flights a year
On time (12 months)
66%
Cancelled
4.0%
avg delay 35 min
Best time to leave
Before 9 AM
90% on time vs 40% 3 to 6 PM
Most reliable airline
PSA
64% chance on time
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 · PSA 5520 · sold as American Eagle
6:00 AM → 6:59 AM59m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
87%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 92%
- Cancelled
- 2.1%
- Avg arrival delay
- 19 min
- Arrived on time 92% of the time (142 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 90% on time; 3 to 6 PM: 40%).
Moderate track record · 142 flights
Find 6:00 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales#2 · PSA 5084 · sold as American Eagle
6:15 AM → 7:24 AM1h 09m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-06.
80%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 81%
- Cancelled
- 1.9%
- Avg arrival delay
- 23 min
- Arrived on time 81% of the time (53 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 90% on time; 3 to 6 PM: 40%).
- Short track record (53 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 53 flights
Find 6:15 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales#3 · PSA 5336 · sold as American Eagle
11:05 AM → 12:19 PM1h 14m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
65%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 82%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 25 min
- Arrived on time 82% of the time (11 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Short track record (11 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 11 flights
Find 11:05 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales#4 · PSA 5338 · sold as American Eagle
5:41 PM → 6:55 PM1h 14m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
62%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 63%
- Cancelled
- 11.1%
- Avg arrival delay
- 42 min
- Arrived on time 63% of the time (8 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's least on-time window (3 to 6 PM: 40% on time; Before 9 AM: 90%).
- Lands inside DCA's trouble window: 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
- 80% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.
Limited track record · 8 flights
Find 5:41 PM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales#5 · PSA 5388 · sold as American Eagle
2:08 PM → 3:25 PM1h 17m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-20.
56%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 60%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 41 min
- Arrived on time 60% of the time (42 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 42 scheduled flights.
- Lands inside DCA's trouble window: 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
- 52% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.
Limited track record · 42 flights
Find 2:08 PM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales#6 · PSA 5389 · sold as American Eagle
10:46 AM → 11:59 AM1h 13m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-17. Same departure also flew as PSA 5162; its record covers all of them.
55%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 57%
- Cancelled
- 13.3%
- Avg arrival delay
- 46 min
- Arrived on time 57% of the time (124 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Cancelled 13.3% of the time (19 of 143).
Moderate track record · 124 flights
Find 10:46 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales#7 · PSA 5303 · sold as American Eagle
9:47 AM → 11:00 AM1h 13m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-20.
49%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 10%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 69 min
- Arrived on time 10% of the time (10 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- 50% 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 9:47 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales#8 · PSA 5337 · sold as American Eagle
2:40 PM → 3:52 PM1h 12m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-06.
41%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 36%
- Cancelled
- 3.7%
- Avg arrival delay
- 70 min
- Arrived on time 36% of the time (131 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Cancelled 3.7% of the time (5 of 136).
- 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 · 131 flights
Find 2:40 PM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales
Airlines on this route
Season-adjusted chance of operating and arriving on time.
- PSA Airlines (sold as American Eagle)64%
1,014 flights · 66% on time as flown · 3.7% cancel
- Republic Airways (sold as American Eagle, Delta Connection or United Express)58%
38 flights · 55% on time as flown · 5.8% cancel
On time by departure time
All airlines, scheduled local departure, Jun 2025 to May 2026.
- Before 9 AM90%
362 flights · avg delay 18 min
- 9 AM to noon62%
339 flights · avg delay 34 min
- Noon to 3 PM48%
111 flights · avg delay 45 min
- 3 to 6 PM40%
107 flights · avg delay 76 min
- 6 to 9 PM43%
137 flights · avg delay 46 min
Best day: Saturday (83%). Worst: Friday (69%).
Smarter routing
Nearby airports that run more on time
ORF → IAD 86% chance on time
Norfolk International Airport to Washington Dulles International Airport · 623 flights a year · 23 mi from your airports · yours: 63%
ORF → BWI 81% chance on time
Norfolk International Airport to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport · 1,530 flights a year · 30 mi from your airports · yours: 63%
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.
What delays this route
- Late-arriving aircraft39%
- Air traffic control and airport volume25%
- Airline (crew, maintenance, boarding)24%
- Severe weather12%
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
ORF to DCA questions
- What time of day is best to fly ORF to DCA?
- Before 9 AM: 90% of flights arrived on time, against 40% 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 ORF to DCA?
- PSA, with a season-adjusted 64% chance of operating and arriving on time over 1,014 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 ORF to DCA?
- February (62% on time); the best was September (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 ORF
- DCA to ORF (return)
- ORF to ATL 85%
- ORF to CLT 82%
- ORF to ORD 75%
- ORF to BWI 83%
- ORF to LGA 75%
- ORF to DFW 71%
- ORF to PHL 76%
- ORF to MCO 76%
- ORF to JFK 81%
- ORF to DTW 79%
- ORF to EWR 82%
- ORF to IAD 89%
Live status: FAA delays and ground stops