San Francisco (SFO) to Raleigh/Durham (RDU): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
San Francisco (SFO) to Raleigh/Durham (RDU) effectively runs on two schedules. In February 2026, 98% of arrivals were on time; in July 2024 that fell to 77% — a 21-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 89% on-time against a national 78%.
- On-time
- 89%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 7 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.4%
- Flights/day
- 2.4
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 5h 12m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 2,400 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from SFO to RDU
Aim for departures around 7 a.m. (99% on-time); avoid 11 p.m. departures (84%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 90% | 5 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 96% | 3 min |
| Wednesday | 88% | 7 min |
| Thursday | 88% | 8 min |
| Friday | 87% | 8 min |
| Saturday | 90% | 7 min |
| Sunday | 84% | 11 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft46%
- Airline operations35%
- National airspace system12%
- Weather7%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from SFO to RDU delayed?
- 11% of SFO–RDU 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 7 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from SFO to RDU?
- Departures around 7 a.m. have the best record (99% on-time), while departures around 11 p.m. have the worst (84%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from SFO to RDU?
- The scheduled SFO–RDU flight time averages 5h 12m over 2,400 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 11% of the time.
- How often are SFO to RDU 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 SFO to RDU?
- July 2024 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 77% of arrivals on time. The best was February 2026 at 98%. If your dates are flexible, that 21-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 1,695 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.