Richmond (RIC) to Atlanta (ATL): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
The calendar drives reliability on RIC–ATL. October 2024 flights landed on schedule 98% of the time, but July 2024 dropped to 67% — a gap of 31 points. Across the full period the route averages 87% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (90% vs 80%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 87%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 11 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.5%
- Flights/day
- 7.4
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 50m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 481 mi
Best airline from RIC 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 | 87% | 11 min | 1.6% | 5,193 |
| Southwest Airlines | 84% | 9 min | 0.3% | 314 |
| Frontier Airlines | 64% | 41 min | 2.9% | 69 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from RIC to ATL
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (93% on-time); avoid 5 p.m. departures (79%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 86% | 15 min |
| Tuesday | 89% | 9 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 90% | 8 min |
| Thursday | 90% | 6 min |
| Friday | 86% | 12 min |
| Saturday | 85% | 10 min |
| Sunday | 83% | 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 aircraft32%
- Airline operations47%
- National airspace system20%
- Weather1%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from RIC to ATL delayed?
- 13% of RIC–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 11 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from RIC to ATL?
- Delta Air Lines has the best on-time record on this route at 87%, based on 5,193 flights. 3 airlines flew RIC–ATL frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from RIC to ATL?
- Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (93% on-time), while departures around 5 p.m. have the worst (79%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from RIC to ATL?
- The scheduled RIC–ATL flight time averages 1h 50m over 481 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 13% of the time.
- How often are RIC to ATL flights cancelled?
- 1.5% 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 RIC to ATL?
- July 2024 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 67% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 98%. If your dates are flexible, that 31-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 5,576 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.