PlainFlights

Route · RDU → ATL · 2020–2025 BTS data

Raleigh/Durham to Atlanta

According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking (BTS On-Time Performance total flights), RDU to ATL (Raleigh/Durham to Atlanta) ranks #203 of 4927 tracked domestic routes by total flights (most flights = #1).

Data updated 2026-06-13

87.4%
On-time
+8.4 pts
vs US avg
75 min
Delay when late
25,294
Flights
#203 of 4927
Corpus placement

Cancelled

1.0%

Best Month

Sep 2025 96%

Worst Month

Jul 2024 71%

Distance

356 mi

Carriers

10

Monthly Performance

Recent 24 months of route data.

Period Flights Delayed Cancelled Diverted Carriers
Dec 2025 396 71 9 0 DL,WN,F9
Nov 2025 397 48 7 1 DL,F9,WN
Oct 2025 416 45 0 0 WN,DL,F9
Sep 2025 401 18 0 0 WN,DL,F9
Aug 2025 402 44 3 2 WN,F9,DL
Jul 2025 398 69 4 0 WN,DL,F9
Jun 2025 387 85 7 1 DL,WN,F9
May 2025 381 81 1 0 DL,WN,F9
Apr 2025 367 45 5 1 DL,F9,WN
Mar 2025 383 35 2 0 WN,DL,F9
Feb 2025 322 46 3 0 DL,WN,F9
Jan 2025 351 60 14 0 DL,WN,F9
Dec 2024 398 62 0 0 DL,F9,WN
Nov 2024 395 47 1 0 WN,DL,F9
Oct 2024 423 40 0 0 WN,DL,F9
Sep 2024 409 57 6 2 WN,9E,DL,F9
Aug 2024 412 76 0 0 DL,F9,WN,9E
Jul 2024 423 121 23 2 9E,DL,F9,WN
Jun 2024 405 55 4 0 9E,DL,F9,WN
May 2024 399 98 2 0 DL,F9,WN
Apr 2024 390 40 0 0 DL,F9,WN
Mar 2024 395 66 0 1 DL,F9,WN
Feb 2024 341 29 0 0 DL,F9,WN
Jan 2024 366 66 2 1 DL,F9,WN

RDU–ATL seasonal on-time pattern

Best: September (91.6%) · weakest: July (80.2%)

75%80%85%90%95% JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec 86.7%

Strongest calendar month

September

91.6% on-time · ~361 flights/mo

Busiest calendar month

October

~380 flights/mo avg

Weakest calendar month

July

80.2% on-time · ~359 flights/mo

Cancellation Rate

1.0%

93 of 9,357 flights

Diversion Rate

0.1%

11 of 9,357 flights

Explore origin & destination

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

RDU - Raleigh/Durham

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

RDU on-time profile

ATL - Atlanta

Full on-time, delay-cause, and seasonal performance for Atlanta, GA.

ATL on-time profile

Compare the two airports

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

Compare RDU vs ATL

Origin-hub reliability standing

Among RDU's stronger departures

RDU → ATL posts a 87.4% on-time rate, landing in the ≥85% band with 9 of 35 BTS-tracked routes leaving Raleigh/Durham. The same hub also shows 25 mid-band and 1 challenged departures · fleet-wide on-time rank #546 of 4927 (highest on-time = #1).

What the Data Says About RDU to ATL

Raleigh/Durham to Atlanta (RDU to ATL) is one of the more dependable pairings in the BTS On-Time Performance dataset: a 87.4% on-time rate across 25,294 flights, with delays that do happen averaging 75.2 minutes. The corridor runs roughly 356 miles and is served by 10 carriers. Over the most recent 24 months, 93 of 9,357 flights were cancelled (1.0%) and 11 diverted (0.1%).

The monthly split is wide on this route: Sep 2025 posted the strongest performance at 96% on-time, while Jul 2024 came in at just 71% - a 24-point swing worth factoring into travel timing.

On the multi-year calendar, RDU–ATL peaks in September at 91.6% on-time while October carries the heaviest traffic (~380 flights per month) ; the softest month is July at 80.2%, a 11.4-point swing that repeats because the corridor's weather and holiday mix stays stable year to year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does RDU to ATL rank among US routes by traffic? ▼
According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking, RDU to ATL ranks #203 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 RDU to ATL? ▼
Flights from Raleigh/Durham to Atlanta have a 87.4% on-time rate based on 25,294 flights. The average delay is 75.2 minutes. The best recent month was Sep 2025 with 96% on-time.
What is the cancellation rate for RDU to ATL? ▼
Over the last 24 months, 1.0% of flights on this route were cancelled (93 of 9,357 flights) and 0.1% were diverted.
How far is the flight from RDU to ATL? ▼
The flight distance from Raleigh/Durham (RDU) to Atlanta (ATL) is approximately 356 miles. This route is served by 10 carriers.
When is the best time to fly from RDU to ATL? ▼
The best recent month for on-time performance was Sep 2025 (96% on-time). The worst was Jul 2024 (71% on-time). Consider booking during months with historically better performance.

Airports on this route

RDU Airport

Raleigh/Durham
ATL Airport

Atlanta
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 RDU–ATL data

RDU–ATL runs 8.4 pts above the national 79% average; the remaining risk is month-to-month swing and carrier mix, not a weak headline rate.

  • Compare RDU and ATL airport profiles: delay causes and top routes differ even on the same corridor. RDU airport
  • If your dates flex, September (91.6% on-time) beats July (80.2%) on this corridor. Seasonal chart
  • 4 other routes post a similar 87.4% 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.