Roanoke–Blacksburg Regional Airport (ROA): Delays & On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Roanoke–Blacksburg Regional Airport (ROA) is a tale of two seasons: departures ran 88% on-time in September 2024 but sank to 64% in December 2025. Across the year it averages 76% against a national 78%, over roughly 5 departures a day to 8 destinations.
- Departures on-time
- 76%
- left <15 min late
- Avg dep delay
- 27 min
- Arrivals on-time
- 74%
- Cancelled
- 2.8%
- Destinations
- 8
- 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 7 a.m.
- 90% on-time
- Best day to fly
- Wednesday
- 79% on-time
- Cancellation risk
- 2.8%
- 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 | 75% | 24 min |
| Tuesday | 72% | 32 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 79% | 26 min |
| Thursday | 72% | 26 min |
| Friday | 70% | 29 min |
| Saturday | 77% | 22 min |
| Sunday | 72% | 33 min |
Busiest routes from ROA
| Route | Flights/12mo | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROA → ORD (Chicago) | 780 | 74% | 26 min |
| ROA → ATL (Atlanta) | 430 | 86% | 17 min |
| ROA → LGA (New York) | 338 | 71% | 34 min |
| ROA → PIE (St. Petersburg) | 122 | 53% | 50 min |
| ROA → SFB (Sanford) | 121 | 43% | 54 min |
Where flights into ROA come from
| Route | Flights/12mo | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|---|
| ORD (Chicago) → ROA | 782 | 73% | 19 min |
| ATL (Atlanta) → ROA | 430 | 80% | 15 min |
| LGA (New York) → ROA | 338 | 74% | 19 min |
| PIE (St. Petersburg) → ROA | 122 | 66% | 22 min |
| SFB (Sanford) → ROA | 121 | 53% | 39 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 aircraft32%
- Airline operations47%
- National airspace system15%
- Weather6%
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 | 84% | 15 min |
| CHO — Charlottesville Albemarle Airport | 100 mi | 80% | 23 min |
| CRW — Yeager Airport | 114 mi | 77% | 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 | 89% | 15 min | 802 |
| Endeavor Air | 85% | 16 min | 535 |
| PSA Airlines | 77% | 20 min | 149 |
| SkyWest Airlines | 76% | 28 min | 1,241 |
| Republic Airways | 72% | 31 min | 907 |
| Allegiant Air | 56% | 45 min | 622 |
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights delayed at ROA?
- 24% of departures from Roanoke–Blacksburg Regional Airport left 15+ minutes late between 2024-06 and 2026-05, 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 7 a.m. depart on time 90% of the time at ROA, versus 46% 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, December 2025 was the weakest month at ROA, with 64% of departures on time.
- How often are flights cancelled at ROA?
- 2.8% 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 4,256 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.