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Route on-time record

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

Raleigh/Durham (Raleigh-Durham International Airport) to Washington (Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport). 1,971 nonstop flights in Jun 2025 to May 2026, 63% arrived within 15 minutes and 5.0% were cancelled. The most reliable flight number was American 2985 at 6:00 AM.

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

RDU → DCA

Raleigh/Durham to Washington: 1,971 nonstop flights a year

On time (12 months)

63%

Cancelled

5.0%

avg delay 30 min

Best time to leave

Before 9 AM

84% on time vs 41% 6 to 9 PM

Most reliable airline

American

69% chance on time

Check RDU to DCA fares

Lowest nonstop fare seen in the next two months: $116 (American 2985 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 · American 2985

    6:00 AM → 7:14 AM1h 14m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-30.

    85%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    88%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    16 min
    • Arrived on time 88% of the time (89 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Never cancelled in 89 scheduled flights.
    • Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 84% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 41%).
    • Departs outside RDU's trouble window (11 AM to 5 PM, when 57% of its 14 ground stops and delay programs started).

    Moderate track record · 89 flights

    Find American 2985 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  2. #2 · PSA 5406 · sold as American Eagle

    9:18 AM → 10:43 AM1h 25m nonstop

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

    76%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    87%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    9 min
    • Arrived on time 87% of the time (31 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Never cancelled in 31 scheduled flights.
    • Departs outside RDU's trouble window (11 AM to 5 PM, when 57% of its 14 ground stops and delay programs started).
    • Short track record (31 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.

    Limited track record · 31 flights

    Find 9:18 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  3. #3 · Envoy 3792 · sold as American Eagle

    11:36 AM → 12:59 PM1h 23m nonstop

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

    73%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    77%
    Cancelled
    3.2%
    Avg arrival delay
    14 min
    • Arrived on time 77% of the time (149 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Cancelled 3.2% of the time (5 of 154).
    • Departs inside RDU's trouble window: 57% of its 14 ground stops and delay programs started between 11 AM and 5 PM.

    Moderate track record · 149 flights

    Find 11:36 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  4. #4 · Envoy 3590 · sold as American Eagle

    11:42 AM → 12:59 PM1h 17m nonstop

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

    73%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    77%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    12 min
    • Arrived on time 77% of the time (44 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Never cancelled in 44 scheduled flights.
    • Departs inside RDU's trouble window: 57% of its 14 ground stops and delay programs started between 11 AM and 5 PM.
    • Short track record (44 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.

    Limited track record · 44 flights

    Find 11:42 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  5. #5 · PSA 5581 · sold as American Eagle

    10:35 AM → 11:56 AM1h 21m nonstop

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

    66%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    55%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    18 min
    • Arrived on time 55% of the time (11 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Departs outside RDU's trouble window (11 AM to 5 PM, when 57% of its 14 ground stops and delay programs started).
    • Short track record (11 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.

    Limited track record · 11 flights

    Find 10:35 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  6. #6 · Republic 4800 · sold as American Eagle, Delta Connection or United Express

    6:00 AM → 7:18 AM1h 18m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-05.

    65%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    65%
    Cancelled
    3.5%
    Avg arrival delay
    26 min
    • Arrived on time 65% of the time (55 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Cancelled 3.5% of the time (2 of 57).
    • Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 84% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 41%).
    • Departs outside RDU's trouble window (11 AM to 5 PM, when 57% of its 14 ground stops and delay programs started).

    Limited track record · 55 flights

    Find 6:00 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  7. #7 · PSA 5577 · sold as American Eagle

    6:00 AM → 7:29 AM1h 25m nonstop

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

    64%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    67%
    Cancelled
    6.7%
    Avg arrival delay
    24 min
    • Arrived on time 67% of the time (139 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Cancelled 6.7% of the time (10 of 149).
    • Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 84% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 41%).
    • Departs outside RDU's trouble window (11 AM to 5 PM, when 57% of its 14 ground stops and delay programs started).

    Moderate track record · 139 flights

    Find 6:00 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  8. #8 · Envoy 4048 · sold as American Eagle

    1:33 PM → 2:53 PM1h 20m nonstop

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

    58%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    60%
    Cancelled
    2.6%
    Avg arrival delay
    33 min
    • Arrived on time 60% of the time (149 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Departs inside RDU's trouble window: 57% of its 14 ground stops and delay programs started between 11 AM and 5 PM.
    • 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 · 149 flights

    Find 1:33 PM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  9. #9 · Republic 4684 · sold as American Eagle, Delta Connection or United Express

    6:00 PM → 7:33 PM1h 33m nonstop

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

    58%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    67%
    Cancelled
    4.5%
    Avg arrival delay
    15 min
    • Arrived on time 67% of the time (42 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Cancelled 4.5% of the time (2 of 44).
    • Leaves in this route's least on-time window (6 to 9 PM: 41% on time; Before 9 AM: 84%).
    • Departs outside RDU's trouble window (11 AM to 5 PM, when 57% of its 14 ground stops and delay programs started).

    Limited track record · 42 flights

    Find 6:00 PM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  10. #10 · PSA 5347 · sold as American Eagle

    6:41 PM → 8:10 PM1h 29m nonstop

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

    56%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    56%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    48 min
    • Arrived on time 56% of the time (9 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Leaves in this route's least on-time window (6 to 9 PM: 41% on time; Before 9 AM: 84%).
    • Departs outside RDU's trouble window (11 AM to 5 PM, when 57% of its 14 ground stops and delay programs started).
    • 56% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.

    Limited track record · 9 flights

    Find 6:41 PM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales

Airlines on this route

Season-adjusted chance of operating and arriving on time.

  • American Airlines69%

    209 flights · 74% on time as flown · 3.5% cancel

  • Envoy Air (sold as American Eagle)64%

    430 flights · 69% on time as flown · 4.6% cancel

  • PSA Airlines (sold as American Eagle)58%

    804 flights · 60% on time as flown · 5.1% cancel

  • Republic Airways (sold as American Eagle, Delta Connection or United Express)56%

    527 flights · 60% on time as flown · 6.1% cancel

On time by departure time

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

  • Before 9 AM84%

    349 flights · avg delay 14 min

  • 9 AM to noon81%

    556 flights · avg delay 12 min

  • Noon to 3 PM59%

    317 flights · avg delay 40 min

  • 3 to 6 PM44%

    399 flights · avg delay 49 min

  • 6 to 9 PM41%

    304 flights · avg delay 41 min

Best day: Saturday (84%). Worst: Friday (68%).

Smarter routing

Nearby airports that run more on time

  • RDU → IAD 85% chance on time

    Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Washington Dulles International Airport · 1,335 flights a year · 23 mi from your airports · yours: 60%

    Rank flightsFares

  • RDU → BWI 83% chance on time

    Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport · 1,811 flights a year · 30 mi from your airports · yours: 60%

    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
73
F
73
M
72
A
71
M
67
J
76
J
68
A
71
S
73
O
73
N
73
D
68

What delays this route

  • Late-arriving aircraft46%
  • Air traffic control and airport volume28%
  • Airline (crew, maintenance, boarding)19%
  • 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

RDU to DCA questions

What time of day is best to fly RDU to DCA?
Before 9 AM: 84% of flights arrived on time, against 41% 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 RDU to DCA?
American, with a season-adjusted 69% chance of operating and arriving on time over 209 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 RDU to DCA?
May (67% on time); the best was June (76%), 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 RDU

Live status: FAA delays and ground stops