78% of flights from Raleigh to Nashville arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is about the typical U.S. route. The 6 a.m. departures ran on time 95% of the time; the 8 p.m. ones 60%. Most reliable airline: Southwest Airlines (79%). 9% 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 → BNA: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 55% of the time. About 1 in 14 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 95 three hours or more; 1.6% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early78%
- 15–30 min late7.6%
- 30–60 min late5.2%
- 1–2 hours late4.2%
- 2–3 hours late1.8%
- 3+ hours late1.1%
- Diverted0.2%
- Cancelled1.6%
Share of all 2,852 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Airlines | 1,266 | 79% | 1.0% | −4 min | 4.0% | +48 min | Southwest Airlines |
| American Airlines | 958 | 78% | 1.9% | −7 min | 8.7% | +72 min | Republic Airways |
| Delta Air Lines | 628 | 77% | 2.4% | −10 min | 11.0% | +85 min | Endeavor Air |
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 | Southwest Airlines | American Airlines | Delta Air Lines |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 a.m. | 95% | — | — |
| 8 a.m. | — | — | 80% |
| 9 a.m. | — | 86% | — |
| 10 a.m. | 94% | — | — |
| 11 a.m. | 83% | — | — |
| 3 p.m. | — | 72% | — |
| 4 p.m. | 46% | 69% | — |
| 5 p.m. | — | — | 80% |
| 7 p.m. | 80% | — | — |
| 8 p.m. | 58% | — | — |
Last flight of the day
On RDU → BNA, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 2.0% of the time, against 1.3% for its earlier flights (1.5× as often). It arrived 3+ hours late 1.6% of the time (earlier flights: 0.6%). 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 | 4:00 p.m. | 2.3% | 2.8% | 1.7% | first flight 10:00 a.m. |
| Delta Air Lines | 6:18 p.m. | 2.5% | 1.1% | 1.8% | first flight 8:05 a.m. |
| Southwest Airlines | 8:20 p.m. | 1.4% | 0.8% | 0.9% | first flight 6:40 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 BNA tonight, book an earlier flight so there's a backup if it's cancelled.
By month
Each calendar month pooled over 2023–2026. Best: February (88%). Worst: July (74%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 444 | 75% | 1.4% |
| Tuesday | 412 | 82% | 1.0% |
| Wednesday | 411 | 85% | 0.5% |
| Thursday | 431 | 76% | 0.7% |
| Friday | 435 | 78% | 1.1% |
| Saturday | 300 | 80% | 4.0% |
| Sunday | 419 | 72% | 3.3% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: weather 33 · air traffic/airport 7 · airline 6
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DL 5114 | 8:05 a.m. | 339 | 80% | 2.1% | −10 min | Endeavor Air |
| AA 4762 | 9:10 a.m. | 285 | 86% | 2.1% | −10 min | Republic Airways |
| DL 5152 | 5:25 p.m. | 288 | 73% | 2.8% | −8 min | Endeavor Air |
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 25, 2026 | 8 | 0% | 8 |
| Jan 31, 2026 | 6 | 0% | 6 |
| Mar 16, 2026 | 9 | 11% | 1 |
| Jan 26, 2026 | 8 | 13% | 3 |
| Dec 20, 2025 | 6 | 17% | 0 |
Questions
How often are flights from RDU to BNA on time?
78% of 2,852 scheduled flights from Raleigh/Durham, NC to Nashville, TN arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 1.6% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly RDU to BNA?
Flights scheduled to leave at 6 a.m. were the most reliable (95% on time). The 8 p.m. departures were the least (60%).
Which airline is most on time from RDU to BNA?
Southwest Airlines: 79% of its 1,266 flights on the route arrived on time. American Airlines: 78%. Delta Air Lines: 77%.
What month has the most delays from RDU to BNA?
July (74% on time). The best month is February (88%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from RDU to BNA more likely to be cancelled?
Yes. Each airline's last RDU–BNA flight of the day was cancelled 2.0% of the time over the past year, against 1.3% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- BNA → RDU (return)
- Raleigh-Durham (RDU) delays by hour
- Flights into Nashville (BNA)
- Southwest Airlines on-time record
- American Airlines on-time record
- Delta Air Lines 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.