Raleigh/Durham (RDU) to Newark (EWR): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Raleigh/Durham (RDU) to Newark (EWR) has an unusually high scrub rate — 3.6% of scheduled departures never left the gate, a cancellation rate several times the national figure. When flights do go, 72% land on time, below the national average of 78%. Republic Airways has been the safer pick, arriving on time 81% of the time.
- On-time
- 72%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 28 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 3.6%
- Flights/day
- 5.4
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 44m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 416 mi
Best airline from RDU to EWR
4 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republic Airwaysmost reliable | 81% | 17 min | 5.3% | 618 |
| United Airlines | 73% | 29 min | 2.4% | 3,058 |
| Endeavor Air | 69% | 24 min | 4.8% | 419 |
| Spirit Airlines | 53% | 41 min | 12.2% | 254 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from RDU to EWR
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (92% on-time); avoid 2 p.m. departures (54%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 71% | 29 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 77% | 23 min |
| Wednesday | 75% | 26 min |
| Thursday | 68% | 29 min |
| Friday | 69% | 28 min |
| Saturday | 75% | 31 min |
| Sunday | 72% | 27 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft20%
- Airline operations15%
- National airspace system59%
- Weather6%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from RDU to EWR delayed?
- 28% of RDU–EWR 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 28 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from RDU to EWR?
- Republic Airways has the best on-time record on this route at 81%, based on 618 flights. 4 airlines flew RDU–EWR frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from RDU to EWR?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (92% on-time), while departures around 2 p.m. have the worst (54%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from RDU to EWR?
- The scheduled RDU–EWR flight time averages 1h 44m over 416 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 28% of the time.
- How often are RDU to EWR flights cancelled?
- 3.6% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-07 and 2026-07 — several times the typical US rate, so consider earlier departures or backup options.
- What is the worst month to fly from RDU to EWR?
- May 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 49% of arrivals on time. The best was May 2026 at 92%. If your dates are flexible, that 43-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 4,349 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.