Denver (DEN) to Atlanta (ATL): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
The calendar drives reliability on DEN–ATL. November 2025 flights landed on schedule 90% of the time, but April 2025 dropped to 65% — a gap of 25 points. Across the full period the route averages 78% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (84% vs 65%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 78%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 15 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.9%
- Flights/day
- 15
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 58m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 1,199 mi
Best airline from DEN to ATL
4 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Linesmost reliable | 83% | 13 min | 1.2% | 5,576 |
| United Airlines | 78% | 15 min | 0.6% | 2,009 |
| Frontier Airlines | 73% | 18 min | 1.0% | 1,348 |
| Southwest Airlines | 71% | 18 min | 0.6% | 2,417 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DEN to ATL
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (92% on-time); avoid 8 p.m. departures (52%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 80% | 14 min |
| Tuesday | 81% | 13 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 81% | 11 min |
| Thursday | 78% | 15 min |
| Friday | 77% | 17 min |
| Saturday | 76% | 16 min |
| Sunday | 76% | 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 aircraft38%
- Airline operations41%
- National airspace system17%
- Weather3%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DEN to ATL delayed?
- 22% of DEN–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 15 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from DEN to ATL?
- Delta Air Lines has the best on-time record on this route at 83%, based on 5,576 flights. 4 airlines flew DEN–ATL frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DEN to ATL?
- Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (92% on-time), while departures around 8 p.m. have the worst (52%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from DEN to ATL?
- The scheduled DEN–ATL flight time averages 2h 58m over 1,199 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 22% of the time.
- How often are DEN to ATL flights cancelled?
- 0.9% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from DEN to ATL?
- April 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 65% of arrivals on time. The best was November 2025 at 90%. If your dates are flexible, that 25-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 11,350 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.