How reliable is Raleigh Durham International Airport?
Flights from RDU departed within 15 minutes of schedule in 81% of 338,388 flights in official BTS history — and weather is calmest in Apr. Here’s the full picture before you book.
Reliability score
on-time, cancellations & delays
Weather favorability
year-round climate
Origin-airport operations
What the departure punctuality at RDU looks like
On-time departures
across 338,388 flights
Source: BTS Airport Operations · data through 2026-06-25. Role-specific BTS departure history; advisory context, not a guarantee for any flight.
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Weather by month
When the weather works for you at Raleigh-durham
A calm-weather score (0–100) for each month from decades of airport observations — how often conditions disrupt flying, not temperature. Higher is calmer.
Calmest month
Calmest flying weather of the year · 97/100 favorability
Roughest month
Most disruptive — low visibility & fog, snow · 88/100 favorability
The read on RDU
What the numbers say about flying through Raleigh Durham International Airport
Across official performance history, flights from Raleigh-durham left within 15 minutes of schedule about 81% of the time over 338,388 flights. That's a solid, better-than-average operational record. Pair it with a moderate cancellation rate of 2.2%. When a departure does run late, the typical delay is around 13 minutes.
On weather, Raleigh-durham is an unusually calm-weather airport year-round. April is the calmest stretch for flying, scoring 97 out of 100 for favorable conditions, while February is the most disruptive at 88, driven mainly by low visibility & fog and snow. The year is relatively steady, so no single month stands out as one to avoid on weather alone.
None of this guarantees your specific flight — it’s the backdrop. To turn it into a booking, score real flights to Raleigh-durham, read how we weigh it all in how the PlaneSane Score works, and brush up with how to pick a reliable flight and avoiding weather delays.
Common questions about RDU
- How reliable is Raleigh Durham International Airport (RDU)?
- Flights from Raleigh-durham left within 15 minutes of schedule roughly 81% of the time across 338,388 flights of official history — a solid, better-than-average operational record. The cancellation rate runs about 2.2%. It's advisory context, not a guarantee for any single flight.
- What is the best month to fly from RDU for good weather?
- April has the calmest flying weather at Raleigh Durham International Airport. February is the most disruptive, mainly from low visibility & fog and snow.
Planning a trip through Raleigh-durham?
Score real flights to and from RDU on reliability, weather, and connection safety — not just price.