Route on-time record
SFO to IAD: most on-time flights and the best time to fly
San Francisco (San Francisco International Airport) to Dulles (Washington Dulles International Airport). 2,829 nonstop flights in Jun 2025 to May 2026, 82% arrived within 15 minutes and 0.7% were cancelled. The most reliable flight number was United 1277 at 6:30 AM.
Flying on a specific date? We’ll adjust for the month, the weekday and the forecast.
SFO → IAD
San Francisco to Dulles: 2,829 nonstop flights a year
On time (12 months)
82%
Cancelled
0.7%
avg delay 12 min
Best time to leave
Before 9 AM
86% on time vs 75% 9 AM to noon
Most reliable airline
United
83% 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 · United 1277
6:30 AM → 2:44 PM5h 14m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-20.
93%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 95%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 1 min
- Arrived on time 95% of the time (21 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 86% on time; 9 AM to noon: 75%).
- Departs outside SFO's trouble window (7 AM to 1 PM, when 61% of its 333 ground stops and delay programs started).
- Lands inside IAD's trouble window: 75% of its 63 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
Limited track record · 21 flights
Find United 1277 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#2 · United 357
9:30 PM → 5:53 AM5h 23m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as United 705, 2117, 2681; its record covers all of them.
90%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 92%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 3 min
- Arrived on time 92% of the time (88 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 88 scheduled flights.
- Departs outside SFO's trouble window (7 AM to 1 PM, when 61% of its 333 ground stops and delay programs started).
Moderate track record · 88 flights
Find United 357 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#3 · United 2111
11:20 PM → 7:31 AM5h 30m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
88%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 91%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 5 min
- Arrived on time 91% of the time (78 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 78 scheduled flights.
- Departs outside SFO's trouble window (7 AM to 1 PM, when 61% of its 333 ground stops and delay programs started).
Moderate track record · 78 flights
Find United 2111 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#4 · United 1453
4:55 PM → 1:25 AM5h 29m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
85%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 88%
- Cancelled
- 0.4%
- Avg arrival delay
- 7 min
- Arrived on time 88% of the time (224 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs outside SFO's trouble window (7 AM to 1 PM, when 61% of its 333 ground stops and delay programs started).
Strong track record · 224 flights
Find United 1453 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#5 · United 2837
10:35 PM → 6:58 AM5h 23m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as United 1870; its record covers all of them.
82%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 83%
- Cancelled
- 0.9%
- Avg arrival delay
- 11 min
- Arrived on time 83% of the time (341 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs outside SFO's trouble window (7 AM to 1 PM, when 61% of its 333 ground stops and delay programs started).
- 52% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.
Strong track record · 341 flights
Find United 2837 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#6 · United 2740
1:55 PM → 10:18 PM5h 23m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-29.
80%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 85%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 10 min
- Arrived on time 85% of the time (27 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs outside SFO's trouble window (7 AM to 1 PM, when 61% of its 333 ground stops and delay programs started).
- Short track record (27 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 27 flights
Find United 2740 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#7 · United 1756
2:05 PM → 10:27 PM5h 22m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-20.
80%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 80%
- Cancelled
- 4.8%
- Avg arrival delay
- 19 min
- Arrived on time 80% of the time (20 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs outside SFO's trouble window (7 AM to 1 PM, when 61% of its 333 ground stops and delay programs started).
- Short track record (20 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 20 flights
Find United 1756 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#8 · United 1849
8:10 AM → 4:25 PM5h 15m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
80%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 81%
- Cancelled
- 2.2%
- Avg arrival delay
- 16 min
- Arrived on time 81% of the time (354 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 86% on time; 9 AM to noon: 75%).
- Departs inside SFO's trouble window: 61% of its 333 ground stops and delay programs started between 7 AM and 1 PM.
- Lands inside IAD's trouble window: 75% of its 63 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
Strong track record · 354 flights
Find United 1849 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#9 · United 336
10:50 AM → 7:12 PM5h 22m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
76%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 79%
- Cancelled
- 0.7%
- Avg arrival delay
- 16 min
- Arrived on time 79% of the time (145 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's least on-time window (9 AM to noon: 75% on time; Before 9 AM: 86%).
- Departs inside SFO's trouble window: 61% of its 333 ground stops and delay programs started between 7 AM and 1 PM.
Moderate track record · 145 flights
Find United 336 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#10 · United 1791
12:45 PM → 8:57 PM5h 12m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
76%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 72%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 31 min
- Arrived on time 72% of the time (32 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 32 scheduled flights.
- Departs inside SFO's trouble window: 61% of its 333 ground stops and delay programs started between 7 AM and 1 PM.
- 75% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.
Limited track record · 32 flights
Find United 1791 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
Airlines on this route
Season-adjusted chance of operating and arriving on time.
- United Airlines83%
2,671 flights · 84% on time as flown · 0.7% cancel
- Alaska Airlines67%
158 flights · 48% on time as flown · 0.7% cancel
On time by departure time
All airlines, scheduled local departure, Jun 2025 to May 2026.
- Before 9 AM86%
527 flights · avg delay 11 min
- 9 AM to noon75%
445 flights · avg delay 16 min
- Noon to 3 PM76%
424 flights · avg delay 21 min
- 3 to 6 PM85%
303 flights · avg delay 9 min
- After 9 PM84%
1,130 flights · avg delay 9 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.
What delays this route
- Late-arriving aircraft42%
- Airline (crew, maintenance, boarding)38%
- Air traffic control and airport volume20%
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
SFO to IAD questions
- What time of day is best to fly SFO to IAD?
- Before 9 AM: 86% of flights arrived on time, against 75% for departures 9 AM to noon. Later flights inherit delays from earlier ones, so the first departures of the day usually run best.
- Which airline is most on time from SFO to IAD?
- United, with a season-adjusted 83% chance of operating and arriving on time over 2,671 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 SFO to IAD?
- June (71% on time); the best was October (89%), 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 SFO
- IAD to SFO (return)
- SFO to LAX 76%
- SFO to SEA 74%
- SFO to JFK 80%
- SFO to SAN 68%
- SFO to LAS 76%
- SFO to ORD 77%
- SFO to DEN 76%
- SFO to SNA 81%
- SFO to PHX 76%
- SFO to BOS 78%
- SFO to EWR 76%
- SFO to DFW 75%
Live status: FAA delays and ground stops