Atlanta (ATL) to Richmond (RIC): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
When you fly ATL to RIC matters as much as anything else about the booking: the route swung from 91% on-time in February 2026 to just 59% in July 2024. Across the full period the route averages 79% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (89% vs 71%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 79%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 14 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.6%
- Flights/day
- 7.3
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 33m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 481 mi
Best airline from ATL to RIC
3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Airlinesmost reliable | 88% | 5 min | 0.4% | 280 |
| Delta Air Lines | 79% | 14 min | 1.6% | 5,445 |
| Frontier Airlines | 64% | 25 min | 2.9% | 69 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from ATL to RIC
Aim for departures around 8 a.m. (91% on-time); avoid 9 p.m. departures (66%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 76% | 14 min |
| Tuesday | 83% | 13 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 85% | 8 min |
| Thursday | 84% | 8 min |
| Friday | 77% | 18 min |
| Saturday | 79% | 15 min |
| Sunday | 72% | 19 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft27%
- Airline operations54%
- National airspace system14%
- Weather5%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from ATL to RIC delayed?
- 21% of ATL–RIC 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 14 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from ATL to RIC?
- Southwest Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 88%, based on 280 flights. 3 airlines flew ATL–RIC frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from ATL to RIC?
- Departures around 8 a.m. have the best record (91% on-time), while departures around 9 p.m. have the worst (66%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from ATL to RIC?
- The scheduled ATL–RIC flight time averages 1h 33m over 481 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 21% of the time.
- How often are ATL to RIC flights cancelled?
- 1.6% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-07 and 2026-07, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from ATL to RIC?
- July 2024 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 59% of arrivals on time. The best was February 2026 at 91%. If your dates are flexible, that 33-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 5,794 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.