Raleigh/Durham (RDU) to Nashville (BNA): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Raleigh/Durham (RDU) to Nashville (BNA) effectively runs on two schedules. In October 2024, 95% of arrivals were on time; in December 2025 that fell to 72% — a 23-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 82% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (92% vs 71%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 82%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 11 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.3%
- Flights/day
- 6.1
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 42m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 442 mi
Best airline from RDU to BNA
3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Airlinesmost reliable | 83% | 9 min | 0.8% | 2,485 |
| Republic Airways | 82% | 13 min | 1.7% | 1,721 |
| Endeavor Air | 81% | 18 min | 2.2% | 274 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from RDU to BNA
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (98% on-time); avoid 4 p.m. departures (62%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 81% | 12 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 87% | 10 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 87% | 8 min |
| Thursday | 80% | 12 min |
| Friday | 79% | 14 min |
| Saturday | 86% | 9 min |
| Sunday | 78% | 13 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft61%
- Airline operations23%
- National airspace system14%
- Weather3%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from RDU to BNA delayed?
- 18% of RDU–BNA 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 11 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from RDU to BNA?
- Southwest Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 83%, based on 2,485 flights. 3 airlines flew RDU–BNA frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from RDU to BNA?
- Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (98% on-time), while departures around 4 p.m. have the worst (62%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from RDU to BNA?
- The scheduled RDU–BNA flight time averages 1h 42m over 442 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 18% of the time.
- How often are RDU to BNA flights cancelled?
- 1.3% 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 RDU to BNA?
- December 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 72% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 95%. If your dates are flexible, that 23-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 4,500 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.