Minneapolis (MSP) to Atlanta (ATL): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
The calendar drives reliability on MSP–ATL. October 2024 flights landed on schedule 92% of the time, but July 2024 dropped to 61% — a gap of 31 points. Across the full period the route averages 82% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (87% vs 76%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 82%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 14 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.6%
- Flights/day
- 9.6
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 33m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 907 mi
Best airline from MSP to ATL
3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Linesmost reliable | 84% | 12 min | 0.5% | 6,325 |
| Spirit Airlines | 69% | 22 min | 0.9% | 577 |
| Frontier Airlines | 61% | 27 min | 2.5% | 279 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from MSP to ATL
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (90% on-time); avoid 2 p.m. departures (59%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 82% | 15 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 87% | 8 min |
| Wednesday | 84% | 10 min |
| Thursday | 82% | 12 min |
| Friday | 79% | 16 min |
| Saturday | 81% | 13 min |
| Sunday | 78% | 20 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft26%
- Airline operations46%
- National airspace system24%
- Weather4%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from MSP to ATL delayed?
- 18% of MSP–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 14 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from MSP to ATL?
- Delta Air Lines has the best on-time record on this route at 84%, based on 6,325 flights. 3 airlines flew MSP–ATL frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from MSP to ATL?
- Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (90% on-time), while departures around 2 p.m. have the worst (59%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from MSP to ATL?
- The scheduled MSP–ATL flight time averages 2h 33m over 907 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 18% of the time.
- How often are MSP to ATL flights cancelled?
- 0.6% 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 MSP to ATL?
- July 2024 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 61% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 92%. If your dates are flexible, that 31-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 7,181 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.