Raleigh/Durham (RDU) to Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Raleigh/Durham (RDU) to Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) effectively runs on two schedules. In October 2024, 87% of arrivals were on time; in July 2025 that fell to 65% — a 22-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 77% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (84% vs 62%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 77%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 21 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 2.5%
- Flights/day
- 6.2
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 3h 14m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 1,061 mi
Best airline from RDU to DFW
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlinesmost reliable | 77% | 21 min | 2.4% | 4,158 |
| Frontier Airlines | 76% | 18 min | 2.1% | 389 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from RDU to DFW
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (89% on-time); avoid 8 p.m. departures (49%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 74% | 24 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 81% | 21 min |
| Wednesday | 78% | 23 min |
| Thursday | 77% | 19 min |
| Friday | 78% | 16 min |
| Saturday | 75% | 22 min |
| Sunday | 75% | 20 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft48%
- Airline operations34%
- National airspace system14%
- Weather4%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from RDU to DFW delayed?
- 23% of RDU–DFW 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 21 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from RDU to DFW?
- American Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 77%, based on 4,158 flights. 2 airlines flew RDU–DFW frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from RDU to DFW?
- Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (89% on-time), while departures around 8 p.m. have the worst (49%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from RDU to DFW?
- The scheduled RDU–DFW flight time averages 3h 14m over 1,061 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 23% of the time.
- How often are RDU to DFW flights cancelled?
- 2.5% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-07 and 2026-07, slightly above the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from RDU to DFW?
- July 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 65% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 87%. If your dates are flexible, that 22-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 4,636 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.