Washington (DCA) to Atlanta (ATL): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Delays are only half the story on DCA–ATL: 3.2% of its scheduled flights were outright cancelled, well above the US norm, so a backup plan matters more here than on most routes. When flights do go, 78% land on time, no worse than the national average of 78%. Republic Airways has been the safer pick, arriving on time 80% of the time.
- On-time
- 78%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 19 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 3.2%
- 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 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republic Airwaysmost reliable | 80% | 13 min | 4.3% | 944 |
| Envoy Air | 80% | 14 min | 3.5% | 367 |
| Delta Air Lines | 80% | 19 min | 2.5% | 7,977 |
| Southwest Airlines | 78% | 15 min | 1.8% | 2,642 |
| PSA Airlines | 70% | 26 min | 6.6% | 2,182 |
| American Airlines | 67% | 37 min | 3.7% | 163 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DCA to ATL
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (91% on-time); avoid 9 p.m. departures (53%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 78% | 21 min |
| Tuesday | 80% | 15 min |
| Wednesday | 80% | 17 min |
| Thursday | 77% | 17 min |
| Friday | 74% | 22 min |
| Saturdaybest | 84% | 14 min |
| Sunday | 74% | 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 aircraft45%
- Airline operations31%
- National airspace system19%
- Weather5%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DCA to ATL delayed?
- 22% of DCA–ATL 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 19 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from DCA to ATL?
- Republic Airways has the best on-time record on this route at 80%, based on 944 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 (91% 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 22% of the time.
- How often are DCA to ATL flights cancelled?
- 3.2% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-07 and 2026-07 — several times the typical US rate, so consider earlier departures or backup options.
- What is the worst month to fly from DCA to ATL?
- July 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 61% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 91%. If your dates are flexible, that 31-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 14,275 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.