PlainFlights

Route · RDU → EWR · 2020–2025 BTS data

Raleigh/Durham to Newark

According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking (BTS On-Time Performance total flights), RDU to EWR (Raleigh/Durham to Newark) ranks #763 of 4927 tracked domestic routes by total flights (most flights = #1).

Data updated 2026-06-13

76%
On-time
-3 pts
vs US avg
88 min
Delay when late
13,304
Flights
#763 of 4927
Corpus placement

Cancelled

3.3%

Best Month

Mar 2024 89%

Worst Month

May 2025 53%

Distance

416 mi

Carriers

22

Monthly Performance

Recent 24 months of route data.

Period Flights Delayed Cancelled Diverted Carriers
Dec 2025 178 65 9 0 NK,UA
Nov 2025 190 53 7 0 UA,NK,YX
Oct 2025 170 67 1 0 UA,YX,NK
Sep 2025 141 26 2 1 UA,NK,YX
Aug 2025 144 50 0 0 YX,NK,UA
Jul 2025 144 53 14 0 NK,UA,YX
Jun 2025 166 56 10 0 UA,YX,NK
May 2025 156 73 14 0 UA,YX,NK
Apr 2025 129 39 4 0 UA,YX
Mar 2025 149 34 3 0 YX,UA
Feb 2025 135 32 5 0 UA,YX
Jan 2025 146 29 3 0 YX,UA
Dec 2024 226 73 1 0 9E,UA,YX
Nov 2024 246 98 0 0 YX,UA,9E
Oct 2024 233 45 0 0 UA,YX,9E
Sep 2024 206 36 0 0 YX,UA,9E
Aug 2024 211 54 24 1 YX,9E,UA
Jul 2024 217 76 17 1 9E,UA,YX
Jun 2024 204 58 10 0 9E,UA,YX
May 2024 241 58 2 0 9E,YX,UA
Apr 2024 241 32 3 1 9E,UA,YX
Mar 2024 220 24 1 0 9E,YX,UA
Feb 2024 205 23 2 0 9E,UA,YX
Jan 2024 194 34 14 0 9E,YX,UA

RDU–EWR seasonal on-time pattern

Best: January (82.1%) · weakest: May (69.6%)

65%70%75%80%85% JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec 71%

Strongest calendar month

January

82.1% on-time · ~183 flights/mo

Busiest calendar month

March

~217 flights/mo avg

Weakest calendar month

May

69.6% on-time · ~207 flights/mo

Cancellation Rate

3.3%

146 of 4,492 flights

Diversion Rate

0.1%

4 of 4,492 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

EWR - Newark

Full on-time, delay-cause, and seasonal performance for Newark, NJ.

EWR on-time profile

Compare the two airports

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

Compare RDU vs EWR

Origin-hub reliability standing

Mid-pack among RDU departures

From RDU, this corridor sits with 25 other 75–85% on-time routes out of 35 tracked departures, not the hub's reliability leaders (9 at ≥85%) and not the softest ( 1 below 75%). Destination: Newark · fleet on-time rank #4311 of 4927.

What the Data Says About RDU to EWR

The Raleigh/Durham to Newark corridor (RDU to EWR) posts a 76% on-time rate on the lower edge of the average band, based on 13,304 tracked flights. Late flights run 88.1 minutes behind on average. 22 carriers cover the 416-mile route; over the last 24 months, 146 of 4,492 flights were cancelled (3.3%) and 0.1% diverted.

The monthly split is wide on this route: Mar 2024 posted the strongest performance at 89% on-time, while May 2025 came in at just 53% - a 36-point swing worth factoring into travel timing.

On the multi-year calendar, RDU–EWR peaks in January at 82.1% on-time while March carries the heaviest traffic (~217 flights per month) ; the softest month is May at 69.6%, a 12.5-point swing that repeats because the corridor's weather and holiday mix stays stable year to year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does RDU to EWR rank among US routes by traffic? ▼
According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking, RDU to EWR ranks #763 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 EWR? ▼
Flights from Raleigh/Durham to Newark have a 76% on-time rate based on 13,304 flights. The average delay is 88.1 minutes. The best recent month was Mar 2024 with 89% on-time.
What is the cancellation rate for RDU to EWR? ▼
Over the last 24 months, 3.3% of flights on this route were cancelled (146 of 4,492 flights) and 0.1% were diverted.
How far is the flight from RDU to EWR? ▼
The flight distance from Raleigh/Durham (RDU) to Newark (EWR) is approximately 416 miles. This route is served by 22 carriers.
When is the best time to fly from RDU to EWR? ▼
The best recent month for on-time performance was Mar 2024 (89% on-time). The worst was May 2025 (53% on-time). Consider booking during months with historically better performance.

Airports on this route

RDU Airport

Raleigh/Durham
EWR Airport

Newark
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–EWR data

RDU–EWR is mid-pack at 76% on-time; month and carrier mix move more than the corridor headline.

  • Compare RDU and EWR airport profiles: delay causes and top routes differ even on the same corridor. RDU airport
  • If your dates flex, January (82.1% on-time) beats May (69.6%) on this corridor. Seasonal chart
  • 4 other routes post a similar 76% 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.