Raleigh/Durham (RDU) to Philadelphia (PHL): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Raleigh/Durham (RDU) to Philadelphia (PHL) has an unusually high scrub rate — 3% of scheduled departures never left the gate, a cancellation rate several times the national figure. When flights do go, 73% land on time, below the national average of 78%. Republic Airways has been the safer pick, arriving on time 83% of the time.
- On-time
- 73%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 27 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 3.0%
- Flights/day
- 7.1
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 30m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 337 mi
Best airline from RDU to PHL
4 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republic Airwaysmost reliable | 83% | 11 min | 3.1% | 260 |
| American Airlines | 72% | 27 min | 2.3% | 2,914 |
| PSA Airlines | 72% | 27 min | 4.7% | 899 |
| Frontier Airlines | 71% | 32 min | 3.5% | 1,273 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from RDU to PHL
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (90% on-time); avoid 4 p.m. departures (54%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 70% | 32 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 77% | 24 min |
| Wednesday | 75% | 27 min |
| Thursday | 70% | 30 min |
| Friday | 70% | 27 min |
| Saturday | 77% | 22 min |
| Sunday | 71% | 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 aircraft57%
- Airline operations23%
- National airspace system16%
- Weather5%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from RDU to PHL delayed?
- 28% of RDU–PHL 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 27 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from RDU to PHL?
- Republic Airways has the best on-time record on this route at 83%, based on 260 flights. 4 airlines flew RDU–PHL frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from RDU to PHL?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (90% on-time), while departures around 4 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 PHL?
- The scheduled RDU–PHL flight time averages 1h 30m over 337 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 28% of the time.
- How often are RDU to PHL flights cancelled?
- 3% 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 PHL?
- July 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 58% of arrivals on time. The best was April 2026 at 83%. If your dates are flexible, that 26-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 5,346 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.