Raleigh/Durham (RDU) to Boston (BOS): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Raleigh/Durham (RDU) to Boston (BOS) effectively runs on two schedules. In November 2024, 90% of arrivals were on time; in September 2025 that fell to 66% — a 24-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 80% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (90% vs 71%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 80%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 17 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.7%
- Flights/day
- 7.7
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 4m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 612 mi
Best airline from RDU to BOS
4 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republic Airwaysmost reliable | 86% | 13 min | 3.5% | 228 |
| Delta Air Lines | 81% | 18 min | 1.5% | 2,893 |
| JetBlue Airways | 79% | 17 min | 1.9% | 2,471 |
| Frontier Airlines | 78% | 12 min | 0.9% | 318 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from RDU to BOS
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (93% on-time); avoid 8 p.m. departures (65%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 80% | 18 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 84% | 14 min |
| Wednesday | 83% | 12 min |
| Thursday | 78% | 18 min |
| Friday | 77% | 20 min |
| Saturday | 84% | 15 min |
| Sunday | 78% | 22 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft42%
- Airline operations27%
- National airspace system30%
- Weather2%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from RDU to BOS delayed?
- 20% of RDU–BOS 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 17 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from RDU to BOS?
- Republic Airways has the best on-time record on this route at 86%, based on 228 flights. 4 airlines flew RDU–BOS frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from RDU to BOS?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (93% on-time), while departures around 8 p.m. have the worst (65%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from RDU to BOS?
- The scheduled RDU–BOS flight time averages 2h 4m over 612 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 20% of the time.
- How often are RDU to BOS flights cancelled?
- 1.7% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05, slightly above the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from RDU to BOS?
- September 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 66% of arrivals on time. The best was November 2024 at 90%. If your dates are flexible, that 24-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 5,910 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.