66% of flights from Fort Lauderdale to Washington arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is worse than the typical U.S. route. The 6 a.m. departures ran on time 86% of the time; the 6 p.m. ones 53%. Most reliable airline: JetBlue (67%). 15% of flights arrived more than an hour late or not at all.
How late?
The on-time rate treats a flight 20 minutes late the same as one 5 hours late. Here's the split for FLL → DCA: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 50% of the time. About 1 in 8 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 45 three hours or more; 2.5% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early66%
- 15–30 min late9.7%
- 30–60 min late9.7%
- 1–2 hours late7.2%
- 2–3 hours late2.5%
- 3+ hours late2.2%
- Diverted0.5%
- Cancelled2.5%
Share of all 2,320 scheduled flights, past 12 months, by arrival time against schedule.
By airline
| Airline | Flights | On time | Cancelled | Typical arrival | 1h+ late | Avg when late | Operated by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JetBlue | 1,381 | 67% | 3.0% | −2 min | 11.7% | +73 min | JetBlue |
| American Airlines | 575 | 64% | 2.4% | −2 min | 13.9% | +82 min | American Airlines |
| Southwest Airlines | 364 | 64% | 0.8% | +4 min | 9.6% | +60 min | Southwest Airlines |
Airline = the name on the ticket. Regional flights (e.g. "Delta Connection") count under the ticketing airline, and the operator is listed.
Best time of day to fly
On-time rate by scheduled departure hour (local time at FLL). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
By airline and hour
| Departs | JetBlue | American Airlines | Southwest Airlines |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 a.m. | 86% | — | — |
| 9 a.m. | 74% | — | — |
| 11 a.m. | — | 78% | 71% |
| 1 p.m. | — | 62% | — |
| 4 p.m. | 62% | — | — |
| 6 p.m. | 49% | 55% | — |
| 8 p.m. | 52% | — | — |
Last flight of the day
On FLL → DCA, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 3.6% of the time, against 2.4% for its earlier flights (1.5× as often). It arrived 3+ hours late 1.6% of the time (earlier flights: 2.8%). It matters more than the numbers suggest. Miss an earlier flight and there's another one that evening; miss the last one and you're usually waiting until morning.
| Airline | Last departure | Last: cancelled | Last: 3h+ late | Earlier: cancelled | Next morning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | 11:31 a.m. | 3.1% | 1.0% | 1.4% | first flight 11:31 a.m. |
| JetBlue | 8:54 p.m. | 3.9% | 1.9% | 2.7% | first flight 6:30 a.m. |
Last flight = the airline's last scheduled departure on this route that day, on days it flies the route at least twice; past 12 months. Times are typical scheduled times over the latest three months.
If you need to be in DCA tonight, book an earlier flight so there's a backup if it's cancelled.
By month
Each calendar month pooled over 2023–2026. Best: October (79%). Worst: July (62%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 349 | 62% | 3.7% |
| Tuesday | 323 | 70% | 1.6% |
| Wednesday | 325 | 75% | 0.0% |
| Thursday | 336 | 69% | 1.5% |
| Friday | 341 | 60% | 2.9% |
| Saturday | 303 | 69% | 3.6% |
| Sunday | 343 | 57% | 4.1% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: weather 24 · airline 18 · air traffic/airport 16
Month by month
Flight numbers on this route
Regular flights with at least 120 scheduled trips in the past year. Sorted by departure time.
| Flight | Departs | Flights | On time | Cancelled | Typical arrival | Operated by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B6 1480 | 6:45 a.m. | 336 | 89% | 2.7% | −11 min | JetBlue |
| B6 1680 | 9:00 a.m. | 333 | 68% | 1.8% | +1 min | JetBlue |
| B6 1880 | 4:20 p.m. | 341 | 58% | 3.5% | +6 min | JetBlue |
| B6 2080 | 8:00 p.m. | 352 | 54% | 4.0% | +8 min | JetBlue |
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 27, 2025 | 8 | 0% | 0 |
| Jan 25, 2026 | 7 | 0% | 7 |
| Nov 30, 2025 | 7 | 0% | 1 |
| Jan 26, 2026 | 7 | 0% | 3 |
| Jul 7, 2026 | 6 | 0% | 1 |
Nearby airport alternatives
Other ways to make the same trip, using airports within 60 miles of Fort Lauderdale or Washington. MIA → IAD has been 18 points more reliable.
| Route | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| FLL → DCA (this route) | 2,320 | 66% | 2.5% |
| MIA → IAD Miami to Washington Dulles | 603 | 84% | 0.7% |
| FLL → IAD Fort Lauderdale to Washington Dulles | 803 | 80% | 1.4% |
| PBI → BWI President Donald J. Trump to Baltimore/Washington | 1,141 | 80% | 1.5% |
| MIA → DCA Miami to Washington Reagan National | 3,954 | 74% | 2.1% |
| MIA → BWI Miami to Baltimore/Washington | 2,291 | 71% | 2.1% |
| FLL → BWI Fort Lauderdale to Baltimore/Washington | 3,150 | 69% | 3.0% |
Questions
How often are flights from FLL to DCA on time?
66% of 2,320 scheduled flights from Fort Lauderdale, FL to Washington, DC arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 2.5% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly FLL to DCA?
Flights scheduled to leave at 6 a.m. were the most reliable (86% on time). The 6 p.m. departures were the least (53%).
Which airline is most on time from FLL to DCA?
JetBlue: 67% of its 1,381 flights on the route arrived on time. American Airlines: 64%. Southwest Airlines: 64%.
What month has the most delays from FLL to DCA?
July (62% on time). The best month is October (79%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from FLL to DCA more likely to be cancelled?
Yes. Each airline's last FLL–DCA flight of the day was cancelled 3.6% of the time over the past year, against 2.4% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- DCA → FLL (return)
- Fort Lauderdale (FLL) delays by hour
- Flights into Washington Reagan National (DCA)
- JetBlue on-time record
- American Airlines on-time record
- Southwest Airlines on-time record
- Connecting off this flight? Check the risk
Domestic flights by the airlines that report to the U.S. DOT, plus their regional partners. "On time" means arriving less than 15 minutes after schedule; cancelled and diverted flights count as not on time. Past performance is a guide, not a forecast. Method.