Atlanta (ATL) to San Francisco (SFO): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
When you fly ATL to SFO matters as much as anything else about the booking: the route swung from 88% on-time in October 2024 to just 56% in July 2026. Across the full period the route averages 72% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (78% vs 67%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 72%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 18 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.9%
- Flights/day
- 9.2
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 5h 14m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 2,139 mi
Best airline from ATL to SFO
3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlinesmost reliable | 77% | 16 min | 0.6% | 1,310 |
| Delta Air Lines | 71% | 18 min | 0.9% | 5,005 |
| Frontier Airlines | 64% | 27 min | 1.6% | 612 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from ATL to SFO
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (88% on-time); avoid 7 p.m. departures (59%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 69% | 19 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 78% | 17 min |
| Wednesday | 76% | 13 min |
| Thursday | 71% | 18 min |
| Friday | 70% | 22 min |
| Saturday | 74% | 15 min |
| Sunday | 63% | 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 aircraft19%
- Airline operations40%
- National airspace system36%
- Weather6%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from ATL to SFO delayed?
- 29% of ATL–SFO 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 18 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from ATL to SFO?
- United Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 77%, based on 1,310 flights. 3 airlines flew ATL–SFO frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from ATL to SFO?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (88% on-time), while departures around 7 p.m. have the worst (59%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from ATL to SFO?
- The scheduled ATL–SFO flight time averages 5h 14m over 2,139 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 29% of the time.
- How often are ATL to SFO flights cancelled?
- 0.9% 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 SFO?
- July 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 56% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 88%. If your dates are flexible, that 32-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 6,927 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.