Atlanta (ATL) to San Diego (SAN): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
When you fly ATL to SAN matters as much as anything else about the booking: the route swung from 86% on-time in March 2026 to just 58% in July 2024. Across the full period the route averages 75% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (82% vs 67%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 75%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 14 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.0%
- Flights/day
- 6.5
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 4h 37m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 1,892 mi
Best airline from ATL to SAN
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Linesmost reliable | 75% | 14 min | 0.9% | 4,510 |
| Alaska Airlines | 70% | 18 min | 1.5% | 594 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from ATL to SAN
Aim for departures around 10 a.m. (87% on-time); avoid 10 p.m. departures (61%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 74% | 16 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 80% | 11 min |
| Wednesday | 79% | 11 min |
| Thursday | 70% | 15 min |
| Friday | 73% | 17 min |
| Saturday | 78% | 15 min |
| Sunday | 71% | 16 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft26%
- Airline operations41%
- National airspace system26%
- Weather7%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from ATL to SAN delayed?
- 25% of ATL–SAN 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 SAN?
- Delta Air Lines has the best on-time record on this route at 75%, based on 4,510 flights. 2 airlines flew ATL–SAN frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from ATL to SAN?
- Departures around 10 a.m. have the best record (87% on-time), while departures around 10 p.m. have the worst (61%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from ATL to SAN?
- The scheduled ATL–SAN flight time averages 4h 37m over 1,892 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 25% of the time.
- How often are ATL to SAN flights cancelled?
- 1% 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 SAN?
- July 2024 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 58% of arrivals on time. The best was March 2026 at 86%. If your dates are flexible, that 27-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 5,124 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.