FlightRecord

Los Angeles (LAX) to Raleigh/Durham (RDU): On-Time Performance

Data through May 2026

Los Angeles (LAX) to Raleigh/Durham (RDU) effectively runs on two schedules. In November 2024, 93% of arrivals were on time; in June 2024 that fell to 69% — a 24-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 80% on-time against a national 78%.

On-time
80%
arrived <15 min late
Avg delay
15 min
completed flights
Cancelled
0.5%
Flights/day
2.2
last 12 months
Duration
4h 50m
scheduled
Distance
2,239 mi

Best airline from LAX to RDU

2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.

AirlineOn-timeAvg delayCancelledFlights
Delta Air Linesmost reliable81%11 min0.7%754
American Airlines79%19 min0.4%722

Monthly on-time trend

Monthly on-time percentage for LAX to RDU flights50%75%100%June 2024: 69% on-time (55 flights)69Jun 2024July 2024: 75% on-time (58 flights)75August 2024: 85% on-time (61 flights)85September 2024: 90% on-time (60 flights)90Sep 2024October 2024: 83% on-time (58 flights)83November 2024: 93% on-time (54 flights)93December 2024: 73% on-time (60 flights)73Dec 2024January 2025: 90% on-time (50 flights)90February 2025: 80% on-time (44 flights)80March 2025: 86% on-time (55 flights)86Mar 2025April 2025: 79% on-time (56 flights)79May 2025: 86% on-time (57 flights)86June 2025: 75% on-time (83 flights)75Jun 2025July 2025: 70% on-time (94 flights)70August 2025: 88% on-time (67 flights)88September 2025: 84% on-time (56 flights)84Sep 2025October 2025: 87% on-time (74 flights)87November 2025: 74% on-time (69 flights)74December 2025: 74% on-time (69 flights)74Dec 2025January 2026: 75% on-time (53 flights)75February 2026: 86% on-time (51 flights)86March 2026: 71% on-time (62 flights)71Mar 2026April 2026: 87% on-time (60 flights)87May 2026: 79% on-time (70 flights)79

Best time to fly from LAX to RDU

Aim for departures around 11 a.m. (85% on-time); avoid 10 p.m. departures (74%).

On-time percentage by scheduled departure hour, LAX to RDU8 a.m.: 77% on-time (255 flights)89 a.m.: 82% on-time (439 flights)910 a.m.: 78% on-time (179 flights)1011 a.m.: 85% on-time (286 flights)1112 p.m.: 81% on-time (132 flights)1210 p.m.: 74% on-time (157 flights)22scheduled departure hour

By day of week

DayOn-timeAvg delay
Monday80%21 min
Tuesdaybest83%11 min
Wednesday80%16 min
Thursday82%16 min
Friday80%11 min
Saturday79%14 min
Sunday78%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 aircraft35%
  • Airline operations51%
  • National airspace system14%

Frequently asked questions

How often are flights from LAX to RDU delayed?
20% of LAX–RDU flights arrived 15 or more minutes late (the US DOT definition of a delay) between 2024-06 and 2026-05. The average arrival delay across completed flights was 15 minutes.
Which airline is most reliable from LAX to RDU?
Delta Air Lines has the best on-time record on this route at 81%, based on 754 flights. 2 airlines flew LAX–RDU frequently enough to compare in this period.
What is the best time of day to fly from LAX to RDU?
Departures around 11 a.m. have the best record (85% on-time), while departures around 10 p.m. have the worst (74%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
How long is the flight from LAX to RDU?
The scheduled LAX–RDU flight time averages 4h 50m over 2,239 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 20% of the time.
How often are LAX to RDU flights cancelled?
0.5% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
What is the worst month to fly from LAX to RDU?
June 2024 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 69% of arrivals on time. The best was November 2024 at 93%. If your dates are flexible, that 24-point gap is worth planning around.

Based on 1,476 flights, 2024-062026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.