Best Time to Fly ATL to RDU: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International → Raleigh-Durham International
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
Over the last 12 months, 79.9% of Atlanta (ATL) to Raleigh/Durham (RDU) flights arrived on time (4,629 scheduled flights). That is 2.3 points above the national average of 77.6%.
Southwest Airlines was the most punctual of the 3 airlines on the route at 86.8%, while Frontier Airlines trailed at 59.2%.
September has been the best month (90% on time) and Sunday the weakest day of the week (75%).
1.5% of flights were cancelled, versus 1.8% nationally.
ATL to RDU on-time performance by airline
Last 12 months. Airlines with fewer than 30 completed flights are marked “limited data”.
| Airline | On time | Avg delay when late | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Airlines | 86.8% | 57 min | 1.4% | 216 |
| Delta Air Lines | 82.8% | 58 min | 1.3% | 3,801 |
| Frontier Airlines | 59.2% | 73 min | 2.6% | 612 |
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly ATL to RDU
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 9,254 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6am–7am | 85.5% | 1.5% | 133 |
| 7am–8am | 90.1% | 1.3% | 606 |
| 8am–9am | 90.3% | 1.0% | 618 |
| 9am–10am | 92.7% | 0.7% | 304 |
| 10am–11am | 87.0% | 1.2% | 829 |
| 11am–12pm | 87.4% | 0.0% | 565 |
| 12pm–1pm | 87.2% | 0.9% | 459 |
| 1pm–2pm | 84.3% | 0.0% | 327 |
| 2pm–3pm | 81.5% | 1.3% | 674 |
| 3pm–4pm | 78.3% | 1.2% | 509 |
| 4pm–5pm | 73.2% | 0.5% | 579 |
| 5pm–6pm | 77.9% | 1.1% | 700 |
| 6pm–7pm | 81.4% | 1.7% | 120 |
| 7pm–8pm | 74.6% | 0.7% | 692 |
| 8pm–9pm | 74.9% | 0.9% | 439 |
| 9pm–10pm | 70.0% | 2.0% | 599 |
| 10pm–11pm | 67.2% | 2.3% | 967 |
| 11pm–12am | 72.2% | 0.8% | 134 |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on ATL to RDU
On-time arrivals during holiday periods compared with all other days, last 24 months.
| Period | On time | vs other days | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving week (Tue before to Mon after) | 80.5% | -1.5 pts | 0.5% | 186 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 79.5% | -2.5 pts | 1.7% | 358 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 72.2% | -9.9 pts | 1.2% | 1,622 |
| All other days | 82.0% | — | 1.1% | 7,088 |
Monthly on-time trend
On-time arrival % each month, with the 12-month US average for reference.
What causes delays on this route
Share of reported delay minutes, last 12 months (BTS cause categories).