Raleigh/Durham (RDU) to Detroit (DTW): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
When you fly RDU to DTW matters as much as anything else about the booking: the route swung from 96% on-time in October 2025 to just 73% in August 2024. Across the full period the route averages 86% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (92% vs 78%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 86%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 12 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.3%
- Flights/day
- 4.1
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 51m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 501 mi
Best airline from RDU to DTW
3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Linesmost reliable | 87% | 12 min | 1.1% | 2,804 |
| Spirit Airlines | 84% | 13 min | 0.0% | 106 |
| Frontier Airlines | 78% | 13 min | 3.1% | 294 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from RDU to DTW
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (93% on-time); avoid 6 p.m. departures (76%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 85% | 15 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 90% | 10 min |
| Wednesday | 88% | 10 min |
| Thursday | 88% | 9 min |
| Friday | 86% | 11 min |
| Saturday | 87% | 11 min |
| Sunday | 81% | 17 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft45%
- Airline operations38%
- National airspace system16%
- Weather2%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from RDU to DTW delayed?
- 14% of RDU–DTW 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 12 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from RDU to DTW?
- Delta Air Lines has the best on-time record on this route at 87%, based on 2,804 flights. 3 airlines flew RDU–DTW frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from RDU to DTW?
- Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (93% on-time), while departures around 6 p.m. have the worst (76%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from RDU to DTW?
- The scheduled RDU–DTW flight time averages 1h 51m over 501 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 14% of the time.
- How often are RDU to DTW 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 DTW?
- August 2024 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 73% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2025 at 96%. If your dates are flexible, that 23-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 3,204 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.