88% of flights from Fort Myers to Washington arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is better than the typical U.S. route. The 9 a.m. departures ran on time 92% of the time; the 6 p.m. ones 84%. 5% 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 RSW → IAD: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 53% of the time. About 1 in 29 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 231 three hours or more; 1.1% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early88%
- 15–30 min late4.1%
- 30–60 min late3.0%
- 1–2 hours late2.2%
- 2–3 hours late0.9%
- 3+ hours late0.4%
- Diverted0.0%
- Cancelled1.1%
Share of all 461 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlines | 461 | 88% | 1.1% | −15 min | 3.5% | +72 min | United 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 RSW). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
Last flight of the day
On RSW → IAD, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 1.0% of the time, against 1.0% for its earlier flights, about the same. It arrived 3+ hours late 1.0% of the time (earlier flights: 0.0%). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlines | 11:59 a.m. | 1.0% | 1.0% | 1.0% | first flight 11:59 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.
By month
Each calendar month pooled over 2023–2026. Best: November (95%). Worst: January (82%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 67 | — | — |
| Tuesday | 56 | — | — |
| Wednesday | 62 | — | — |
| Thursday | 69 | — | — |
| Friday | 69 | — | — |
| Saturday | 69 | — | — |
| Sunday | 69 | — | — |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: airline 3 · weather 1 · air traffic/airport 1
Month by month
Not enough months with data to draw a trend.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UA 2054 | 11:59 a.m. | 232 | 89% | 0.9% | −16 min | United Airlines |
Nearby airport alternatives
Other ways to make the same trip, using airports within 60 miles of Fort Myers or Washington. None has been clearly more reliable than RSW → IAD.
| Route | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| RSW → IAD (this route) | 461 | 88% | 1.1% |
| RSW → BWI Southwest Florida to Baltimore/Washington | 1,409 | 77% | 2.3% |
| RSW → DCA Southwest Florida to Washington Reagan National | 858 | 70% | 2.5% |
Questions
How often are flights from RSW to IAD on time?
88% of 461 scheduled flights from Fort Myers, FL to Washington, DC arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 1.1% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly RSW to IAD?
Flights scheduled to leave at 9 a.m. were the most reliable (92% on time). The 6 p.m. departures were the least (84%).
What month has the most delays from RSW to IAD?
January (82% on time). The best month is November (95%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from RSW to IAD more likely to be cancelled?
Not much. Each airline's last RSW–IAD flight of the day was cancelled 1.0% of the time over the past year, against 1.0% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- IAD → RSW (return)
- Southwest Florida (RSW) delays by hour
- Flights into Washington Dulles (IAD)
- United 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.