Atlanta (ATL) to Houston (IAH): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Atlanta (ATL) to Houston (IAH) effectively runs on two schedules. In October 2024, 87% of arrivals were on time; in June 2025 that fell to 58% — a 30-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 74% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (83% vs 66%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 74%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 19 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 2.1%
- Flights/day
- 13
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 17m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 689 mi
Best airline from ATL to IAH
5 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SkyWest Airlinesmost reliable | 83% | 9 min | 0.0% | 119 |
| United Airlines | 82% | 16 min | 1.4% | 2,257 |
| Delta Air Lines | 75% | 16 min | 2.0% | 5,054 |
| Frontier Airlines | 67% | 29 min | 2.2% | 1,381 |
| Spirit Airlines | 66% | 28 min | 3.8% | 1,051 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from ATL to IAH
Aim for departures around 11 a.m. (87% on-time); avoid 9 p.m. departures (58%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 73% | 22 min |
| Tuesday | 77% | 15 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 78% | 15 min |
| Thursday | 74% | 17 min |
| Friday | 75% | 20 min |
| Saturday | 75% | 18 min |
| Sunday | 70% | 23 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft33%
- Airline operations37%
- National airspace system26%
- Weather4%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from ATL to IAH delayed?
- 26% of ATL–IAH flights arrived 15 or more minutes late (the US DOT definition of a delay) between 2024-07 and 2026-07. The average arrival delay across completed flights was 19 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from ATL to IAH?
- SkyWest Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 83%, based on 119 flights. 5 airlines flew ATL–IAH frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from ATL to IAH?
- Departures around 11 a.m. have the best record (87% on-time), while departures around 9 p.m. have the worst (58%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from ATL to IAH?
- The scheduled ATL–IAH flight time averages 2h 17m over 689 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 26% of the time.
- How often are ATL to IAH flights cancelled?
- 2.1% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-07 and 2026-07, slightly above the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from ATL to IAH?
- June 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 58% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 87%. If your dates are flexible, that 30-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 9,862 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.