65% of flights from Raleigh to New York arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is worse than the typical U.S. route. The 6 a.m. departures ran on time 81% of the time; the 7 p.m. ones 51%. Most reliable airline: Delta Air Lines (66%). 21% 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 RDU → LGA: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 40% of the time. About 1 in 7 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 35 three hours or more; 6.6% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early65%
- 15–30 min late7.1%
- 30–60 min late7.0%
- 1–2 hours late7.4%
- 2–3 hours late3.7%
- 3+ hours late2.9%
- Diverted0.2%
- Cancelled6.6%
Share of all 4,339 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Lines | 2,315 | 66% | 6.5% | −5 min | 15.5% | +108 min | Endeavor Air 80%, Delta Air Lines 15%, Republic Airways 5% |
| American Airlines | 1,885 | 65% | 6.7% | −2 min | 12.3% | +78 min | Republic Airways 95%, American Airlines 5% |
| Frontier Airlines | 139 | 53% | 6.5% | +9 min | 10.8% | +58 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 RDU). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
By airline and hour
| Departs | Delta Air Lines | American Airlines |
|---|---|---|
| 6 a.m. | 85% | 77% |
| 8 a.m. | 73% | 83% |
| 10 a.m. | — | 78% |
| 11 a.m. | 72% | — |
| noon | — | 68% |
| 1 p.m. | 59% | 50% |
| 2 p.m. | — | 62% |
| 3 p.m. | 60% | 64% |
| 5 p.m. | 57% | 55% |
| 7 p.m. | 54% | 48% |
Last flight of the day
On RDU → LGA, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 9.7% of the time, against 5.9% for its earlier flights (1.6× as often). It arrived 3+ hours late 3.7% of the time (earlier flights: 2.8%). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | 8:11 p.m. | 9.9% | 1.9% | 5.9% | first flight 6:50 a.m. |
| Delta Air Lines | 7:59 p.m. | 9.6% | 5.5% | 5.9% | first flight 6:00 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 LGA 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 (78%). Worst: July (58%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 685 | 61% | 10.9% |
| Tuesday | 678 | 68% | 4.7% |
| Wednesday | 662 | 67% | 4.1% |
| Thursday | 666 | 63% | 5.7% |
| Friday | 666 | 66% | 4.3% |
| Saturday | 352 | 74% | 4.5% |
| Sunday | 630 | 60% | 10.8% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: air traffic/airport 121 · weather 92 · airline 72
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AA 4459 | 10:30 a.m. | 209 | 66% | 6.2% | −3 min | Republic Airways |
| DL 5184 | 3:00 p.m. | 221 | 53% | 8.6% | +2 min | Endeavor Air |
| AA 4497 | 5:34 p.m. | 156 | 54% | 9.0% | +4 min | Republic Airways |
| DL 5101 | 7:59 p.m. | 237 | 55% | 9.3% | −2 min | Endeavor Air |
| AA 4560 | 8:11 p.m. | 235 | 54% | 9.4% | +4 min | Republic Airways |
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 14, 2025 | 14 | 0% | 8 |
| Feb 23, 2026 | 14 | 0% | 14 |
| Mar 25, 2026 | 13 | 0% | 6 |
| Apr 5, 2026 | 12 | 0% | 4 |
| Jan 25, 2026 | 12 | 0% | 12 |
Nearby airport alternatives
Other ways to make the same trip, using airports within 60 miles of Raleigh or New York. RDU → EWR has been 8 points more reliable.
| Route | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| RDU → LGA (this route) | 4,339 | 65% | 6.6% |
| RDU → EWR Raleigh-Durham to Newark | 2,872 | 73% | 3.7% |
| RDU → JFK Raleigh-Durham to New York JFK | 3,672 | 70% | 5.7% |
Questions
How often are flights from RDU to LGA on time?
65% of 4,339 scheduled flights from Raleigh/Durham, NC to New York, NY arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 6.6% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly RDU to LGA?
Flights scheduled to leave at 6 a.m. were the most reliable (81% on time). The 7 p.m. departures were the least (51%).
Which airline is most on time from RDU to LGA?
Delta Air Lines: 66% of its 2,315 flights on the route arrived on time. American Airlines: 65%. Frontier Airlines: 53%.
What month has the most delays from RDU to LGA?
July (58% on time). The best month is September (78%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from RDU to LGA more likely to be cancelled?
Yes. Each airline's last RDU–LGA flight of the day was cancelled 9.7% of the time over the past year, against 5.9% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- LGA → RDU (return)
- Raleigh-Durham (RDU) delays by hour
- Flights into LaGuardia (LGA)
- Delta Air Lines on-time record
- American 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.