Raleigh/Durham (RDU) to San Francisco (SFO): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Raleigh/Durham (RDU) to San Francisco (SFO) effectively runs on two schedules. In September 2024, 94% of arrivals were on time; in June 2026 that fell to 53% — a 41-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 81% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (86% vs 72%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 81%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 14 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.4%
- Flights/day
- 2.4
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 5h 57m
- 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 5 p.m. departures (34%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 80% | 14 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 90% | 6 min |
| Wednesday | 82% | 11 min |
| Thursday | 77% | 16 min |
| Friday | 78% | 15 min |
| Saturday | 85% | 14 min |
| Sunday | 78% | 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 aircraft30%
- Airline operations24%
- National airspace system44%
- Weather2%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from RDU to SFO delayed?
- 19% of RDU–SFO 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 14 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 5 p.m. have the worst (34%). 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 57m over 2,400 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 19% of the time.
- How often are RDU to SFO flights cancelled?
- 0.4% 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 SFO?
- June 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 53% of arrivals on time. The best was September 2024 at 94%. If your dates are flexible, that 41-point gap is worth planning around.
Explore related pages
More routes from RDU
Other ways to fly to San Francisco (SFO)
Related guides
Based on 1,694 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.