FlightRecord

Raleigh/Durham (RDU) to New York (JFK): On-Time Performance

Data through May 2026

The biggest risk when flying RDU to JFK isn't a late arrival — it's not departing at all. 3.8% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled, several times the typical US rate. When flights do go, 78% land on time, below the national average of 78%.

On-time
78%
arrived <15 min late
Avg delay
17 min
completed flights
Cancelled
3.8%
Flights/day
6.5
last 12 months
Duration
1h 46m
scheduled
Distance
427 mi

Best airline from RDU to JFK

3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.

AirlineOn-timeAvg delayCancelledFlights
Endeavor Airmost reliable82%17 min4.7%1,034
Republic Airways78%17 min3.8%2,744
JetBlue Airways75%19 min3.2%1,835

Monthly on-time trend

Monthly on-time percentage for RDU to JFK flights50%75%100%June 2024: 77% on-time (342 flights)77Jun 2024July 2024: 70% on-time (341 flights)70August 2024: 73% on-time (341 flights)73September 2024: 87% on-time (330 flights)87Sep 2024October 2024: 86% on-time (344 flights)86November 2024: 87% on-time (338 flights)87December 2024: 75% on-time (321 flights)75Dec 2024January 2025: 80% on-time (189 flights)80February 2025: 81% on-time (165 flights)81March 2025: 83% on-time (178 flights)83Mar 2025April 2025: 77% on-time (170 flights)77May 2025: 75% on-time (190 flights)75June 2025: 68% on-time (204 flights)68Jun 2025July 2025: 67% on-time (217 flights)67August 2025: 78% on-time (201 flights)78September 2025: 82% on-time (197 flights)82Sep 2025October 2025: 73% on-time (195 flights)73November 2025: 77% on-time (247 flights)77December 2025: 69% on-time (233 flights)69Dec 2025January 2026: 78% on-time (184 flights)78February 2026: 76% on-time (185 flights)76March 2026: 75% on-time (197 flights)75Mar 2026April 2026: 84% on-time (156 flights)84May 2026: 83% on-time (163 flights)83

Best time to fly from RDU to JFK

Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (92% on-time); avoid 8 p.m. departures (58%).

On-time percentage by scheduled departure hour, RDU to JFK5 a.m.: 92% on-time (557 flights)56 a.m.: 86% on-time (689 flights)67 a.m.: 86% on-time (198 flights)78 a.m.: 79% on-time (140 flights)89 a.m.: 84% on-time (378 flights)910 a.m.: 85% on-time (302 flights)1011 a.m.: 81% on-time (389 flights)1112 p.m.: 67% on-time (568 flights)121 p.m.: 78% on-time (279 flights)132 p.m.: 83% on-time (470 flights)143 p.m.: 76% on-time (304 flights)154 p.m.: 67% on-time (147 flights)165 p.m.: 61% on-time (408 flights)176 p.m.: 66% on-time (273 flights)187 p.m.: 67% on-time (364 flights)198 p.m.: 58% on-time (161 flights)20scheduled departure hour

By day of week

DayOn-timeAvg delay
Monday78%16 min
Tuesday79%13 min
Wednesdaybest84%13 min
Thursday75%20 min
Friday77%21 min
Saturday76%18 min
Sunday75%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 aircraft37%
  • Airline operations24%
  • National airspace system33%
  • Weather6%

Frequently asked questions

How often are flights from RDU to JFK delayed?
22% of RDU–JFK 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 JFK?
Endeavor Air has the best on-time record on this route at 82%, based on 1,034 flights. 3 airlines flew RDU–JFK frequently enough to compare in this period.
What is the best time of day to fly from RDU to JFK?
Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (92% on-time), while departures around 8 p.m. have the worst (58%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
How long is the flight from RDU to JFK?
The scheduled RDU–JFK flight time averages 1h 46m over 427 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 22% of the time.
How often are RDU to JFK flights cancelled?
3.8% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05 — several times the typical US rate, so consider earlier departures or backup options.
What is the worst month to fly from RDU to JFK?
July 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 67% of arrivals on time. The best was September 2024 at 87%. If your dates are flexible, that 20-point gap is worth planning around.

Based on 5,628 flights, 2024-062026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.