Richmond (RIC) to Atlanta (ATL): On-Time Performance
Data through July 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 86% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (89% vs 79%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 86%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 12 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.6%
- Flights/day
- 7.3
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 49m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 481 mi
Best airline from RIC 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 | 87% | 11 min | 1.7% | 5,445 |
| Southwest Airlines | 85% | 9 min | 0.4% | 280 |
| 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. (92% on-time); avoid 5 p.m. departures (78%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 84% | 16 min |
| Tuesday | 89% | 9 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 90% | 9 min |
| Thursdaybest | 90% | 6 min |
| Friday | 85% | 12 min |
| Saturday | 84% | 12 min |
| Sunday | 82% | 18 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft31%
- Airline operations46%
- National airspace system21%
- Weather2%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from RIC to ATL delayed?
- 14% of RIC–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 12 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 5,445 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 (92% on-time), while departures around 5 p.m. have the worst (78%). 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 49m over 481 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 14% of the time.
- How often are RIC to ATL flights cancelled?
- 1.6% 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 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 5,794 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.