Detroit (DTW) to Atlanta (ATL): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
The calendar drives reliability on DTW–ATL. September 2024 flights landed on schedule 90% of the time, but July 2024 dropped to 65% — a gap of 25 points. Across the full period the route averages 79% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (86% vs 70%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 79%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 16 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.0%
- Flights/day
- 13
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 4m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 594 mi
Best airline from DTW to ATL
3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Linesmost reliable | 81% | 14 min | 0.6% | 7,701 |
| Spirit Airlines | 75% | 18 min | 1.8% | 1,629 |
| Frontier Airlines | 64% | 35 min | 3.0% | 894 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DTW to ATL
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (90% on-time); avoid 5 p.m. departures (65%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 76% | 20 min |
| Tuesday | 81% | 13 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 83% | 12 min |
| Thursday | 80% | 14 min |
| Friday | 78% | 19 min |
| Saturday | 81% | 14 min |
| Sunday | 73% | 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 aircraft32%
- Airline operations46%
- National airspace system20%
- Weather2%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DTW to ATL delayed?
- 21% of DTW–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 16 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from DTW to ATL?
- Delta Air Lines has the best on-time record on this route at 81%, based on 7,701 flights. 3 airlines flew DTW–ATL frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DTW to ATL?
- Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (90% on-time), while departures around 5 p.m. have the worst (65%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from DTW to ATL?
- The scheduled DTW–ATL flight time averages 2h 4m over 594 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 21% of the time.
- How often are DTW to ATL flights cancelled?
- 1% 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 DTW to ATL?
- July 2024 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 65% of arrivals on time. The best was September 2024 at 90%. If your dates are flexible, that 25-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 10,224 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.