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Route · DTW → RDU · 2020–2025 BTS data

Detroit to Raleigh/Durham

According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking (BTS On-Time Performance total flights), DTW to RDU (Detroit to Raleigh/Durham) ranks #1391 of 4927 tracked domestic routes by total flights (most flights = #1).

Data updated 2026-06-13

86.7%
On-time
+7.7 pts
vs US avg
70 min
Delay when late
8,695
Flights
#1391 of 4927
Corpus placement

Cancelled

0.9%

Best Month

Feb 2024 95%

Worst Month

Jan 2024 71%

Distance

501 mi

Carriers

17

Monthly Performance

Recent 24 months of route data.

Period Flights Delayed Cancelled Diverted Carriers
Dec 2025 124 34 2 0 DL,F9,NK
Nov 2025 150 22 1 0 DL,F9,NK
Oct 2025 141 15 0 0 DL,F9,NK
Sep 2025 130 13 0 0 DL,NK,F9
Aug 2025 151 21 1 0 F9,NK,DL
Jul 2025 143 31 0 1 DL,NK
Jun 2025 155 30 2 0 DL,NK,F9
May 2025 144 18 0 0 DL,F9,NK
Apr 2025 129 13 0 0 DL,F9
Mar 2025 130 13 0 0 DL,F9
Feb 2025 102 20 0 0 DL
Jan 2025 104 16 1 0 DL,F9
Dec 2024 115 27 0 0 DL,F9
Nov 2024 127 12 0 0 DL,F9
Oct 2024 132 18 2 0 DL,F9
Sep 2024 129 17 2 0 DL,F9
Aug 2024 142 31 3 3 DL,F9
Jul 2024 153 30 11 0 DL,F9
Jun 2024 149 24 4 0 DL,F9
May 2024 135 25 0 0 DL,F9
Apr 2024 116 19 0 0 9E,DL
Mar 2024 119 19 0 0 9E,DL
Feb 2024 92 5 0 0 9E,DL
Jan 2024 105 30 0 0 9E,DL

DTW–RDU seasonal on-time pattern

Best: September (91.2%) · weakest: July (81.4%)

80%85%90%95% JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec 82.9%

Strongest calendar month

September

91.2% on-time · ~125 flights/mo

Busiest calendar month

August

~137 flights/mo avg

Weakest calendar month

July

81.4% on-time · ~130 flights/mo

Cancellation Rate

0.9%

29 of 3,117 flights

Diversion Rate

0.1%

4 of 3,117 flights

Explore origin & destination

On-time and delay data for the airports this route connects.

DTW - Detroit

Full on-time, delay-cause, and seasonal performance for Detroit, MI.

DTW on-time profile

RDU - Raleigh/Durham

Full on-time, delay-cause, and seasonal performance for Raleigh/Durham, NC.

RDU on-time profile

Compare the two airports

See DTW and RDU side by side on delays, cancellations, and reliability.

Compare DTW vs RDU

Origin-hub reliability standing

Among DTW's stronger departures

DTW → RDU posts a 86.7% on-time rate, landing in the ≥85% band with 34 of 94 BTS-tracked routes leaving Detroit. The same hub also shows 60 mid-band and 0 challenged departures · fleet-wide on-time rank #704 of 4927 (highest on-time = #1).

What the Data Says About DTW to RDU

Detroit to Raleigh/Durham (DTW to RDU) is one of the more dependable pairings in the BTS On-Time Performance dataset: a 86.7% on-time rate across 8,695 flights, with delays that do happen averaging 70.2 minutes. The corridor runs roughly 501 miles and is served by 17 carriers. Over the most recent 24 months, 29 of 3,117 flights were cancelled (0.9%) and 4 diverted (0.1%).

The monthly split is wide on this route: Feb 2024 posted the strongest performance at 95% on-time, while Jan 2024 came in at just 71% - a 23-point swing worth factoring into travel timing.

On the multi-year calendar, DTW–RDU peaks in September at 91.2% on-time while August carries the heaviest traffic (~137 flights per month) ; the softest month is July at 81.4%, a 9.8-point swing that repeats because the corridor's weather and holiday mix stays stable year to year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does DTW to RDU rank among US routes by traffic? ▼
According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking, DTW to RDU ranks #1391 of 4927 tracked domestic routes by total flights (most flights = #1). That ordinal matches our busiest-routes listing (total_flights DESC). See /methodology#corpus-placement for the exact sort basis.
How often are flights delayed from DTW to RDU? ▼
Flights from Detroit to Raleigh/Durham have a 86.7% on-time rate based on 8,695 flights. The average delay is 70.2 minutes. The best recent month was Feb 2024 with 95% on-time.
What is the cancellation rate for DTW to RDU? ▼
Over the last 24 months, 0.9% of flights on this route were cancelled (29 of 3,117 flights) and 0.1% were diverted.
How far is the flight from DTW to RDU? ▼
The flight distance from Detroit (DTW) to Raleigh/Durham (RDU) is approximately 501 miles. This route is served by 17 carriers.
When is the best time to fly from DTW to RDU? ▼
The best recent month for on-time performance was Feb 2024 (95% on-time). The worst was Jan 2024 (71% on-time). Consider booking during months with historically better performance.

Airports on this route

DTW Airport

Detroit
RDU Airport

Raleigh/Durham
Data source

Data Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), On-Time Performance Data. Statistics reflect cumulative performance across all available reporting periods.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Using DTW–RDU data

DTW–RDU runs 7.7 pts above the national 79% average; the remaining risk is month-to-month swing and carrier mix, not a weak headline rate.

  • Compare DTW and RDU airport profiles: delay causes and top routes differ even on the same corridor. DTW airport
  • If your dates flex, September (91.2% on-time) beats July (81.4%) on this corridor. Seasonal chart
  • 4 other routes post a similar 86.7% on-time rate; compare before you commit to this pairing. Similar routes

On-time rate reflects the BTS historical average across all reporting carriers on this origin–destination pair, not any single flight or booking recommendation.

Data sourced from U.S. Department of Transportation Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) On-Time Performance data. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainFlights

Every figure on PlainFlights is rendered directly from BTS On-Time Performance data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page aggregates this specific route's on-time performance and monthly trend, live from the dataset. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.