Air New ZealandNZ
Flights NZ9557 09:20 daily · NZ9559 12:31 Mo Th Fr Su · NZ9558 varies daily
live
Direct flights from Raleigh/Durham (RDU) to San Francisco (SFO): 21 nonstop departures observed each week across 3 airlines. 100% of the last 8 operated flights arrived within 15 minutes of schedule. The median arrival is 21 minutes early. No cancellations were recorded across the 8 tracked flights. The nonstop covers 3,853 km, an estimated 5 hours 26 minutes in the air. Measured by Pro Flight Search from live flight boards at Raleigh/Durham and San Francisco. Updated 10 September 2026 at 07:34 UTC.
RDU
Raleigh/Durham
busy · +22
SFO
San Francisco
smooth · +0
3,853 km · ~5h 26m est.
Runs reliable · 3 airlines · 21x weekly · nonstop
100% on time
of the last 8 operated RDU → SFO flights arrived within 15 minutes
Median arrival delay is −21 min. 0 of 8 tracked legs cancelled in the sample. Will a delayed flight be cancelled? →
Median arrival−21 minacross the last 8 operated legs
Flight time~5h 26mestimated from route distance
Weekly departures21x3 direct airlines on the leg
The week
scheduled departures · origin local time06121824
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
Air New ZealandUnited AirlinesVirgin Australia
Each mark is a scheduled departure at its origin-local time, observed operating in the last 7 days. Today is highlighted.
Who flies it
observed on the boards · 7 daysHistory
operated legs · board outcomes09-09NZ9557arrived−24
09-09NZ9558arrived−21
09-09VA8483arrived−21
09-09VA8527arrived−24
Actual board outcomes rather than schedules, paired departure and arrival per flight and day.
Full board history, day by day →
Airports right now
live boardsWeather lens
Current conditions put the pressure at SFO: 57% odds of a 15+ minute delay and around +23 min expected when it bites, measured from this route's own weather-matched delay history. See live delays → · Weather risk by airport →
next sweep in 120s
How the Raleigh/Durham to San Francisco route actually runs
Pro Flight Search records official board updates for nonstop RDU to SFO flights through the day: schedules, estimates, gate pushes and actual departures. The verdict above comes from operated flights, so it reflects what this route does rather than what the timetable promises.
Planning around a delay? Live airport delays · Weather delay risk map · Will a delayed flight be cancelled? · Do planes make up time in the air? · How we measure
Cite this data
Journalists, bloggers, and researchers may cite this page with attribution and a link to Pro Flight Search.
Suggested citation
Pro Flight Search — Raleigh/Durham (RDU) to San Francisco (SFO) route reliability, measured from operated flights on official airport boards.
Canonical URL
How we measure this →
https://proflightsearch.com/search-flights/RDU-SFO
RDU to SFO questions
Is RDU–SFO running on time right now?
Smooth skies ahead. The departure side at RDU is the weaker end, route health score 85/100. The airports section above carries the live status and delay window at both ends.
Morning or evening flight on RDU–SFO?
Operators schedule morning departures around 06:34 and evening departures around 17:33 from RDU. Earlier flights typically land before destination-airport delays accumulate later in the day; check the SFO delay card to confirm conditions when you'd arrive.
How long is the flight from RDU to SFO?
Great-circle distance is 3,853 km. With typical jet cruise speed plus taxi, climb and descent, expect roughly 302–360 min gate-to-gate on this route.
How often does RDU–SFO fly?
3 carriers operate this route, around 58 flights a week between them. Compare carrier days and times in the airline list above.
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