84% of flights from Houston to Raleigh arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is better than the typical U.S. route. The 8 a.m. departures ran on time 90% of the time; the 6 p.m. ones 77%. Most reliable airline: United Airlines (85%). 6% of flights arrived more than an hour late or not at all.
How late?
The on-time rate treats a flight 20 minutes late the same as one 5 hours late. Here's the split for IAH → RDU: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 53% of the time. About 1 in 21 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 107 three hours or more; 1.2% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early84%
- 15–30 min late4.5%
- 30–60 min late5.7%
- 1–2 hours late3.0%
- 2–3 hours late0.7%
- 3+ hours late0.9%
- Diverted0.2%
- Cancelled1.2%
Share of all 1,279 scheduled flights, past 12 months, by arrival time against schedule.
By airline
| Airline | Flights | On time | Cancelled | Typical arrival | 1h+ late | Avg when late | Operated by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlines | 1,033 | 85% | 0.9% | −7 min | 3.9% | +57 min | United Airlines 67%, Mesa Airlines 32%, Republic Airways 0%, SkyWest 0% |
| Frontier Airlines | 246 | 77% | 2.4% | −9 min | 8.1% | +82 min | Frontier Airlines |
Airline = the name on the ticket. Regional flights (e.g. "Delta Connection") count under the ticketing airline, and the operator is listed.
Best time of day to fly
On-time rate by scheduled departure hour (local time at IAH). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
By airline and hour
| Departs | United Airlines | Frontier Airlines |
|---|---|---|
| 8 a.m. | 89% | — |
| 9 a.m. | — | 82% |
| noon | 89% | — |
| 6 p.m. | 77% | — |
Last flight of the day
On IAH → RDU, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 1.1% of the time, against 0.8% for its earlier flights (1.5× as often). It arrived 3+ hours late 1.4% of the time (earlier flights: 0.1%). It matters more than the numbers suggest. Miss an earlier flight and there's another one that evening; miss the last one and you're usually waiting until morning.
| Airline | Last departure | Last: cancelled | Last: 3h+ late | Earlier: cancelled | Next morning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlines | 6:08 p.m. | 1.1% | 1.4% | 0.8% | first flight 8:15 a.m. |
Last flight = the airline's last scheduled departure on this route that day, on days it flies the route at least twice; past 12 months. Times are typical scheduled times over the latest three months.
If you need to be in RDU tonight, book an earlier flight so there's a backup if it's cancelled.
By month
Each calendar month pooled over 2023–2026. Best: September (89%). Worst: July (67%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 203 | 80% | 1.5% |
| Tuesday | 156 | 88% | 0.0% |
| Wednesday | 166 | 93% | 0.0% |
| Thursday | 203 | 83% | 0.0% |
| Friday | 198 | 85% | 0.5% |
| Saturday | 146 | 82% | 2.1% |
| Sunday | 207 | 77% | 3.9% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: weather 11 · airline 3 · air traffic/airport 1
Month by month
Flight numbers on this route
Regular flights with at least 120 scheduled trips in the past year. Sorted by departure time.
| Flight | Departs | Flights | On time | Cancelled | Typical arrival | Operated by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UA 6148 | 8:15 a.m. | 253 | 89% | 1.2% | −10 min | Mesa Airlines |
| F9 1742 | 9:40 a.m. | 174 | 79% | 1.7% | −11 min | Frontier Airlines |
| UA 2498 | 6:08 p.m. | 331 | 76% | 0.6% | −1 min | United Airlines |
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 12, 2026 | 4 | 0% | 0 |
| Jan 25, 2026 | 4 | 0% | 4 |
| Mar 16, 2026 | 3 | 0% | 0 |
| Jul 6, 2026 | 4 | 25% | 1 |
| Jun 21, 2026 | 4 | 25% | 0 |
Questions
How often are flights from IAH to RDU on time?
84% of 1,279 scheduled flights from Houston, TX to Raleigh/Durham, NC arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 1.2% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly IAH to RDU?
Flights scheduled to leave at 8 a.m. were the most reliable (90% on time). The 6 p.m. departures were the least (77%).
Which airline is most on time from IAH to RDU?
United Airlines: 85% of its 1,033 flights on the route arrived on time. Frontier Airlines: 77%.
What month has the most delays from IAH to RDU?
July (67% on time). The best month is September (89%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from IAH to RDU more likely to be cancelled?
Yes. Each airline's last IAH–RDU flight of the day was cancelled 1.1% of the time over the past year, against 0.8% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- RDU → IAH (return)
- Houston Bush Intercontinental (IAH) delays by hour
- Flights into Raleigh-Durham (RDU)
- United Airlines on-time record
- Frontier Airlines on-time record
- Connecting off this flight? Check the risk
Domestic flights by the airlines that report to the U.S. DOT, plus their regional partners. "On time" means arriving less than 15 minutes after schedule; cancelled and diverted flights count as not on time. Past performance is a guide, not a forecast. Method.