Raleigh/Durham (RDU) to San Francisco (SFO): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Raleigh/Durham (RDU) to San Francisco (SFO) effectively runs on two schedules. In September 2024, 94% of arrivals were on time; in January 2026 that fell to 69% — a 25-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 83% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (89% vs 74%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 83%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 12 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.2%
- Flights/day
- 2.5
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 5h 58m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 2,400 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from RDU to SFO
Aim for departures around 7 a.m. (95% on-time); avoid 6 p.m. departures (73%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 84% | 12 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 90% | 6 min |
| Wednesday | 84% | 11 min |
| Thursday | 80% | 15 min |
| Friday | 80% | 13 min |
| Saturday | 86% | 14 min |
| Sunday | 81% | 15 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft33%
- Airline operations22%
- National airspace system42%
- Weather3%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from RDU to SFO delayed?
- 17% of RDU–SFO 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 12 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from RDU to SFO?
- Departures around 7 a.m. have the best record (95% on-time), while departures around 6 p.m. have the worst (73%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from RDU to SFO?
- The scheduled RDU–SFO flight time averages 5h 58m over 2,400 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 17% of the time.
- How often are RDU to SFO flights cancelled?
- 0.2% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from RDU to SFO?
- January 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 69% of arrivals on time. The best was September 2024 at 94%. If your dates are flexible, that 25-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 1,603 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.