Route on-time record
DEN to RDU: most on-time flights and the best time to fly
Denver (Denver International Airport) to Raleigh/Durham (Raleigh-Durham International Airport). 1,793 nonstop flights in Jun 2025 to May 2026, 75% arrived within 15 minutes and 0.7% were cancelled. The most reliable flight number was United 2269 at 9:50 AM.
Flying on a specific date? We’ll adjust for the month, the weekday and the forecast.
DEN → RDU
Denver to Raleigh/Durham: 1,793 nonstop flights a year
On time (12 months)
75%
Cancelled
0.7%
avg delay 16 min
Best time to leave
After 9 PM
86% on time vs 48% 6 to 9 PM
Most reliable airline
Frontier
81% chance on time
Lowest nonstop fare seen in the next two months: $417 (United 2040 on 2026-10-27). Fares open on our travel partner (Aviasales). Pick the flight number you chose here.
Most reliable nonstop flights
Ranked by the chance the flight operates and arrives within 15 minutes of schedule, from Jun 2025 to May 2026 records.
#1 · United 2269
9:50 AM → 3:12 PM3h 22m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
85%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 85%
- Cancelled
- 0.3%
- Avg arrival delay
- 9 min
- Arrived on time 85% of the time (321 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs outside DEN's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 79% of its 174 ground stops and delay programs started).
- Lands inside RDU's trouble window: 57% of its 14 ground stops and delay programs started between 11 AM and 5 PM.
Strong track record · 321 flights
Find United 2269 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#2 · Frontier 2440
12:30 PM → 5:48 PM3h 20m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
83%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 84%
- Cancelled
- 1.4%
- Avg arrival delay
- 10 min
- Arrived on time 84% of the time (275 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs outside DEN's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 79% of its 174 ground stops and delay programs started).
Strong track record · 275 flights
Find Frontier 2440 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#3 · United 2671
5:50 PM → 11:19 PM3h 25m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
79%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 83%
- Cancelled
- 0.9%
- Avg arrival delay
- 11 min
- Arrived on time 83% of the time (215 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs inside DEN's trouble window: 79% of its 174 ground stops and delay programs started between 2 PM and 8 PM.
Strong track record · 215 flights
Find United 2671 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#4 · Southwest 3138
10:30 AM → 3:45 PM3h 15m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
66%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 69%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 13 min
- Arrived on time 69% of the time (55 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 55 scheduled flights.
- Departs outside DEN's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 79% of its 174 ground stops and delay programs started).
- Lands inside RDU's trouble window: 57% of its 14 ground stops and delay programs started between 11 AM and 5 PM.
Limited track record · 55 flights
Find Southwest 3138 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#5 · Southwest 2038
7:05 PM → 12:20 AM3h 15m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
54%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 58%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 17 min
- Arrived on time 58% of the time (55 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 55 scheduled flights.
- Leaves in this route's least on-time window (6 to 9 PM: 48% on time; After 9 PM: 86%).
- Departs inside DEN's trouble window: 79% of its 174 ground stops and delay programs started between 2 PM and 8 PM.
Limited track record · 55 flights
Find Southwest 2038 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
Airlines on this route
Season-adjusted chance of operating and arriving on time.
- Frontier Airlines81%
279 flights · 84% on time as flown · 1.2% cancel
- United Airlines80%
805 flights · 80% on time as flown · 0.5% cancel
- Southwest Airlines65%
709 flights · 64% on time as flown · 0.7% cancel
On time by departure time
All airlines, scheduled local departure, Jun 2025 to May 2026.
- 9 AM to noon80%
849 flights · avg delay 10 min
- Noon to 3 PM79%
96 flights · avg delay 16 min
- 3 to 6 PM73%
497 flights · avg delay 17 min
- 6 to 9 PM48%
234 flights · avg delay 36 min
- After 9 PM86%
77 flights · avg delay 10 min
Best day: Saturday (77%). Worst: Friday (70%).
On time by month
All airlines, Jun 2023 to May 2026. Several years per month, so one stormy season doesn't define a month. Travel-month estimates use this seasonal pattern.
What delays this route
- Late-arriving aircraft50%
- Airline (crew, maintenance, boarding)29%
- Air traffic control and airport volume19%
- Severe weather1%
Share of delay minutes by the cause airlines report to the US DOT.
Historical odds, not a guarantee. Built from the US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics on-time reports (Jun 2025 to May 2026), FAA ground stop and delay program advisories, and 20 years of airport weather observations. Covers US airlines that report to the DOT; schedules are flights operated recently, so confirm times when you book. ATIS Alerts is not affiliated with any airline. Fares are what Aviasales travelers saw in recent searches (USD, one way, 1 adult), not live quotes; the partner site shows the current price. Fare links go to our travel partner and may earn us a commission at no cost to you. Affiliate disclosure
DEN to RDU questions
- What time of day is best to fly DEN to RDU?
- After 9 PM: 86% of flights arrived on time, against 48% for departures 6 to 9 PM.
- Which airline is most on time from DEN to RDU?
- Frontier, with a season-adjusted 81% chance of operating and arriving on time over 279 flights. The adjustment compares each airline with what the route did in the months it flew, so a carrier that skipped a stormy month gets no free credit.
- What is the worst month for delays on DEN to RDU?
- June (64% on time); the best was November (80%), averaged over Jun 2023 to May 2026.
- Is this a prediction for my flight?
- No. These are historical odds from the US DOT on-time reports, FAA advisories and airport weather records. Check your flight status and the FAA delay board on the day you fly.
More routes from DEN
- RDU to DEN (return)
- DEN to PHX 75%
- DEN to SLC 77%
- DEN to LAX 79%
- DEN to LAS 75%
- DEN to SEA 73%
- DEN to ORD 70%
- DEN to DFW 75%
- DEN to SAN 76%
- DEN to MSP 78%
- DEN to ATL 80%
- DEN to SFO 68%
- DEN to AUS 76%
Most on-time flights from DEN on every route →
Live status: FAA delays and ground stops