Dallas (DAL) to Atlanta (ATL): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
The calendar drives reliability on DAL–ATL. September 2025 flights landed on schedule 88% of the time, but June 2025 dropped to 65% — a gap of 23 points. Across the full period the route averages 79% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (87% vs 67%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 79%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 17 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.8%
- Flights/day
- 9.4
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 3m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 721 mi
Best airline from DAL to ATL
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Linesmost reliable | 82% | 18 min | 1.9% | 3,812 |
| Southwest Airlines | 76% | 15 min | 1.6% | 3,251 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DAL to ATL
Aim for departures around 8 a.m. (91% on-time); avoid 8 p.m. departures (56%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 80% | 15 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 84% | 13 min |
| Wednesday | 79% | 19 min |
| Thursday | 79% | 17 min |
| Friday | 79% | 17 min |
| Saturday | 78% | 19 min |
| Sunday | 75% | 18 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft42%
- Airline operations36%
- National airspace system14%
- Weather8%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DAL to ATL delayed?
- 21% of DAL–ATL flights arrived 15 or more minutes late (the US DOT definition of a delay) between 2024-06 and 2026-05. The average arrival delay across completed flights was 17 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from DAL to ATL?
- Delta Air Lines has the best on-time record on this route at 82%, based on 3,812 flights. 2 airlines flew DAL–ATL frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DAL to ATL?
- Departures around 8 a.m. have the best record (91% on-time), while departures around 8 p.m. have the worst (56%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from DAL to ATL?
- The scheduled DAL–ATL flight time averages 2h 3m over 721 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 21% of the time.
- How often are DAL to ATL flights cancelled?
- 1.8% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05, slightly above the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from DAL to ATL?
- June 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 65% of arrivals on time. The best was September 2025 at 88%. If your dates are flexible, that 23-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 7,063 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.