FlightRecord

Atlanta (ATL) to St. Louis (STL): On-Time Performance

Data through July 2026

Atlanta (ATL) to St. Louis (STL) effectively runs on two schedules. In October 2024, 93% of arrivals were on time; in July 2024 that fell to 64% — a 29-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 81% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (89% vs 73%), which matters most in the rough months.

On-time
81%
arrived <15 min late
Avg delay
12 min
completed flights
Cancelled
1.4%
Flights/day
10
last 12 months
Duration
1h 42m
scheduled
Distance
484 mi

Best airline from ATL to STL

3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.

AirlineOn-timeAvg delayCancelledFlights
Delta Air Linesmost reliable83%11 min1.6%4,794
Southwest Airlines80%12 min1.0%2,420
Frontier Airlines69%17 min1.6%245

Monthly on-time trend

Monthly on-time percentage for ATL to STL flights50%75%100%August 2024: 83% on-time (299 flights)83Aug 2024September 2024: 89% on-time (284 flights)89October 2024: 93% on-time (296 flights)93November 2024: 88% on-time (276 flights)88Nov 2024December 2024: 79% on-time (292 flights)79January 2025: 76% on-time (263 flights)76February 2025: 86% on-time (247 flights)86Feb 2025March 2025: 82% on-time (276 flights)82April 2025: 80% on-time (274 flights)80May 2025: 76% on-time (288 flights)76May 2025June 2025: 74% on-time (330 flights)74July 2025: 78% on-time (351 flights)78August 2025: 83% on-time (331 flights)83Aug 2025September 2025: 92% on-time (317 flights)92October 2025: 86% on-time (348 flights)86November 2025: 81% on-time (285 flights)81Nov 2025December 2025: 79% on-time (311 flights)79January 2026: 84% on-time (279 flights)84February 2026: 81% on-time (254 flights)81Feb 2026March 2026: 77% on-time (283 flights)77April 2026: 83% on-time (299 flights)83May 2026: 81% on-time (330 flights)81May 2026June 2026: 82% on-time (318 flights)82July 2026: 74% on-time (330 flights)74

Best time to fly from ATL to STL

Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (94% on-time); avoid 8 p.m. departures (62%).

On-time percentage by scheduled departure hour, ATL to STL6 a.m.: 94% on-time (127 flights)67 a.m.: 92% on-time (359 flights)78 a.m.: 89% on-time (965 flights)89 a.m.: 89% on-time (421 flights)910 a.m.: 89% on-time (171 flights)1011 a.m.: 88% on-time (714 flights)1112 p.m.: 79% on-time (206 flights)121 p.m.: 84% on-time (393 flights)132 p.m.: 82% on-time (588 flights)143 p.m.: 83% on-time (665 flights)154 p.m.: 69% on-time (153 flights)165 p.m.: 74% on-time (563 flights)176 p.m.: 84% on-time (320 flights)187 p.m.: 70% on-time (396 flights)198 p.m.: 62% on-time (513 flights)209 p.m.: 74% on-time (218 flights)2110 p.m.: 75% on-time (344 flights)2211 p.m.: 79% on-time (343 flights)23scheduled departure hour

By day of week

DayOn-timeAvg delay
Monday78%14 min
Tuesdaybest87%9 min
Wednesday86%8 min
Thursday82%10 min
Friday81%12 min
Saturday83%13 min
Sunday73%17 min

What causes delays on this route

Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.

  • Late-arriving aircraft39%
  • Airline operations45%
  • National airspace system12%
  • Weather5%

Frequently asked questions

How often are flights from ATL to STL delayed?
19% of ATL–STL 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 12 minutes.
Which airline is most reliable from ATL to STL?
Delta Air Lines has the best on-time record on this route at 83%, based on 4,794 flights. 3 airlines flew ATL–STL frequently enough to compare in this period.
What is the best time of day to fly from ATL to STL?
Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (94% on-time), while departures around 8 p.m. have the worst (62%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
How long is the flight from ATL to STL?
The scheduled ATL–STL flight time averages 1h 42m over 484 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 19% of the time.
How often are ATL to STL flights cancelled?
1.4% 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 STL?
July 2024 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 64% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 93%. If your dates are flexible, that 29-point gap is worth planning around.

Based on 7,459 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.