Roanoke–Blacksburg Regional Airport (ROA): Delays & On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Roanoke–Blacksburg Regional Airport (ROA) is a tale of two seasons: departures ran 88% on-time in September 2024 but sank to 62% in July 2026. Across the year it averages 75% against a national 78%, over roughly 6 departures a day to 9 destinations.
- Departures on-time
- 75%
- left <15 min late
- Avg dep delay
- 27 min
- Arrivals on-time
- 73%
- Cancelled
- 3.1%
- Destinations
- 9
- nonstop
- Airlines
- 6
Plan your departure from ROA
The choices most likely to improve your odds, based on this airport’s historical record.
- Best departure time
- Around 6 a.m.
- 89% on-time
- Best day to fly
- Saturday
- 78% on-time
- Cancellation risk
- 3.1%
- above the US average
Monthly on-time trend
Best time of day to depart from ROA
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 73% | 26 min |
| Tuesday | 73% | 29 min |
| Wednesday | 77% | 25 min |
| Thursday | 72% | 26 min |
| Friday | 69% | 29 min |
| Saturdaybest | 78% | 24 min |
| Sunday | 71% | 33 min |
Busiest routes from ROA
| Route | Flights/12mo | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROA → ORD (Chicago) | 882 | 74% | 26 min |
| ROA → ATL (Atlanta) | 432 | 86% | 15 min |
| ROA → LGA (New York) | 347 | 69% | 33 min |
| ROA → SFB (Sanford) | 117 | 41% | 57 min |
| ROA → PIE (St. Petersburg) | 113 | 53% | 50 min |
Where flights into ROA come from
| Route | Flights/12mo | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|---|
| ORD (Chicago) → ROA | 883 | 71% | 19 min |
| ATL (Atlanta) → ROA | 432 | 80% | 15 min |
| LGA (New York) → ROA | 347 | 73% | 19 min |
| SFB (Sanford) → ROA | 117 | 53% | 40 min |
| PIE (St. Petersburg) → ROA | 113 | 68% | 21 min |
What causes delays at ROA
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT, weighted across routes departing ROA.
- Late-arriving aircraft35%
- Airline operations44%
- National airspace system15%
- Weather5%
Alternative airports near Roanoke
Other airports within 120 miles, compared on departure reliability.
| Airport | Distance | On-time departures | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|---|
| GSO — Piedmont Triad International Airport | 85 mi | 83% | 16 min |
| CHO — Charlottesville Albemarle Airport | 100 mi | 80% | 23 min |
| CRW — Yeager Airport | 114 mi | 76% | 26 min |
| RDU — Raleigh-Durham International Airport | 120 mi | 80% | 17 min |
Compare the airport-level record first, then check the exact route you plan to book.
Airline performance at ROA
| Airline | On-time departures | Avg delay | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Lines | 90% | 13 min | 833 |
| Endeavor Air | 85% | 17 min | 470 |
| SkyWest Airlines | 76% | 27 min | 1,281 |
| Republic Airways | 72% | 30 min | 1,004 |
| PSA Airlines | 65% | 32 min | 238 |
| Allegiant Air | 55% | 46 min | 636 |
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights delayed at ROA?
- 25% of departures from Roanoke–Blacksburg Regional Airport left 15+ minutes late between 2024-07 and 2026-07, with an average departure delay of 27 minutes. The national on-time average over the same period was 78%.
- What is the best time of day to depart from ROA?
- Flights scheduled around 6 a.m. depart on time 89% of the time at ROA, versus 45% around 9 p.m.. Booking before noon is the usual rule of thumb here.
- What is the worst month for delays at ROA?
- In this dataset, July 2026 was the weakest month at ROA, with 62% of departures on time.
- How often are flights cancelled at ROA?
- 3.1% of scheduled departures from ROA were cancelled in this period, compared with a national rate of 1.6%.
Popular route pages from this airport
Related guides
Based on 4,462 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.