How reliable is Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport?
Flights from DCA departed within 15 minutes of schedule in 78% of 783,337 flights in official BTS history — and weather is calmest in Nov. Here’s the full picture before you book.
Reliability score
on-time, cancellations & delays
Weather favorability
year-round climate
Origin-airport operations
What the departure punctuality at DCA looks like
On-time departures
across 783,337 flights
Source: BTS Airport Operations · data through 2026-06-25. Role-specific BTS departure history; advisory context, not a guarantee for any flight.
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Weather by month
When the weather works for you at Washington
A calm-weather score (0–100) for each month from decades of airport observations — how often conditions disrupt flying, not temperature. Higher is calmer.
Calmest month
Calmest flying weather of the year · 96/100 favorability
Roughest month
Most disruptive — low visibility & fog, snow · 86/100 favorability
The read on DCA
What the numbers say about flying through Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
Across official performance history, flights from Washington left within 15 minutes of schedule about 78% of the time over 783,337 flights. That's a respectable but unspectacular operational record. Pair it with an elevated cancellation rate of 3.2% — worth weighing alongside the on-time figure. When a departure does run late, the typical delay is around 15 minutes.
On weather, Washington is an unusually calm-weather airport year-round. November is the calmest stretch for flying, scoring 96 out of 100 for favorable conditions, while January is the most disruptive at 86, driven mainly by low visibility & fog and snow. The year is relatively steady, so no single month stands out as one to avoid on weather alone.
None of this guarantees your specific flight — it’s the backdrop. To turn it into a booking, score real flights to Washington, read how we weigh it all in how the PlaneSane Score works, and brush up with how to pick a reliable flight and avoiding weather delays.
Common questions about DCA
- How reliable is Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)?
- Flights from Washington left within 15 minutes of schedule roughly 78% of the time across 783,337 flights of official history — a respectable but unspectacular operational record. The cancellation rate runs about 3.2%. It's advisory context, not a guarantee for any single flight.
- What is the best month to fly from DCA for good weather?
- November has the calmest flying weather at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. January is the most disruptive, mainly from low visibility & fog and snow.
Planning a trip through Washington?
Score real flights to and from DCA on reliability, weather, and connection safety — not just price.