Houston (IAH) to Raleigh/Durham (RDU): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Houston (IAH) to Raleigh/Durham (RDU) effectively runs on two schedules. In September 2025, 93% of arrivals were on time; in July 2024 that fell to 54% — a 39-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 79% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (81% vs 73%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 79%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 16 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.5%
- Flights/day
- 2.5
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 45m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 1,042 mi
Best airline from IAH to RDU
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlinesmost reliable | 81% | 13 min | 1.2% | 1,449 |
| Frontier Airlines | 71% | 23 min | 2.7% | 368 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from IAH to RDU
Aim for departures around 12 p.m. (88% on-time); avoid 5 p.m. departures (56%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 74% | 20 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 85% | 10 min |
| Wednesday | 84% | 13 min |
| Thursday | 77% | 16 min |
| Friday | 81% | 16 min |
| Saturday | 79% | 17 min |
| Sunday | 74% | 16 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft51%
- Airline operations31%
- National airspace system11%
- Weather7%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from IAH to RDU delayed?
- 21% of IAH–RDU flights arrived 15 or more minutes late (the US DOT definition of a delay) between 2024-07 and 2026-07. The average arrival delay across completed flights was 16 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from IAH to RDU?
- United Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 81%, based on 1,449 flights. 2 airlines flew IAH–RDU frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from IAH to RDU?
- Departures around 12 p.m. have the best record (88% on-time), while departures around 5 p.m. have the worst (56%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from IAH to RDU?
- The scheduled IAH–RDU flight time averages 2h 45m over 1,042 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 21% of the time.
- How often are IAH to RDU flights cancelled?
- 1.5% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-07 and 2026-07, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from IAH to RDU?
- July 2024 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 54% of arrivals on time. The best was September 2025 at 93%. If your dates are flexible, that 39-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 1,828 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.