New York (JFK) to Atlanta (ATL): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
The calendar drives reliability on JFK–ATL. November 2024 flights landed on schedule 85% of the time, but December 2025 dropped to 63% — a gap of 22 points. Across the full period the route averages 75% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (80% vs 68%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 75%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 21 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.9%
- Flights/day
- 12
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 38m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 760 mi
Best airline from JFK 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 | 79% | 18 min | 1.2% | 5,117 |
| JetBlue Airways | 69% | 23 min | 3.3% | 2,303 |
| Frontier Airlines | 68% | 26 min | 2.3% | 1,147 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from JFK to ATL
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (82% on-time); avoid 8 p.m. departures (65%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 75% | 22 min |
| Tuesday | 78% | 20 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 82% | 15 min |
| Thursday | 74% | 19 min |
| Friday | 76% | 18 min |
| Saturday | 72% | 25 min |
| Sunday | 68% | 26 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 operations38%
- National airspace system28%
- Weather2%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from JFK to ATL delayed?
- 25% of JFK–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 21 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from JFK to ATL?
- Delta Air Lines has the best on-time record on this route at 79%, based on 5,117 flights. 3 airlines flew JFK–ATL frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from JFK to ATL?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (82% on-time), while departures around 8 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 JFK to ATL?
- The scheduled JFK–ATL flight time averages 2h 38m over 760 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 25% of the time.
- How often are JFK to ATL flights cancelled?
- 1.9% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-07 and 2026-07, slightly above the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from JFK to ATL?
- December 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 63% of arrivals on time. The best was November 2024 at 85%. If your dates are flexible, that 22-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 8,567 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.