Washington (DCA) to Atlanta (ATL): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Washington (DCA) to Atlanta (ATL) effectively runs on two schedules. In October 2024, 91% of arrivals were on time; in July 2024 that fell to 64% — a 27-point seasonal swing. 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 68%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 79%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 18 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 2.9%
- Flights/day
- 19
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 60m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 547 mi
Best airline from DCA to ATL
6 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republic Airwaysmost reliable | 81% | 11 min | 3.9% | 920 |
| Delta Air Lines | 80% | 18 min | 2.4% | 7,636 |
| Southwest Airlines | 79% | 14 min | 1.5% | 2,584 |
| Envoy Air | 79% | 15 min | 4.1% | 314 |
| PSA Airlines | 72% | 24 min | 5.8% | 2,063 |
| American Airlines | 65% | 45 min | 3.2% | 189 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DCA to ATL
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (90% on-time); avoid 9 p.m. departures (53%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 79% | 20 min |
| Tuesday | 81% | 15 min |
| Wednesday | 80% | 17 min |
| Thursday | 77% | 17 min |
| Friday | 76% | 20 min |
| Saturdaybest | 85% | 13 min |
| Sunday | 75% | 22 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft46%
- Airline operations32%
- National airspace system18%
- Weather5%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DCA to ATL delayed?
- 21% of DCA–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 18 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from DCA to ATL?
- Republic Airways has the best on-time record on this route at 81%, based on 920 flights. 6 airlines flew DCA–ATL frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DCA to ATL?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (90% on-time), while departures around 9 p.m. have the worst (53%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from DCA to ATL?
- The scheduled DCA–ATL flight time averages 1h 60m over 547 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 21% of the time.
- How often are DCA to ATL flights cancelled?
- 2.9% 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 DCA to ATL?
- July 2024 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 64% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 91%. If your dates are flexible, that 27-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 13,706 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.