San Diego (SAN) to Atlanta (ATL): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
When you fly SAN to ATL matters as much as anything else about the booking: the route swung from 96% on-time in April 2026 to just 62% in December 2024. Across the full period the route averages 82% on-time against a national 78%.
- On-time
- 82%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 14 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.0%
- Flights/day
- 6.5
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 4h 18m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 1,892 mi
Best airline from SAN to ATL
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Linesmost reliable | 84% | 13 min | 0.9% | 4,511 |
| Alaska Airlines | 66% | 21 min | 1.2% | 594 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from SAN to ATL
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (92% on-time); avoid 9 a.m. departures (53%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 83% | 12 min |
| Tuesday | 83% | 11 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 85% | 9 min |
| Thursday | 81% | 17 min |
| Friday | 79% | 17 min |
| Saturday | 83% | 12 min |
| Sunday | 77% | 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 aircraft25%
- Airline operations41%
- National airspace system27%
- Weather8%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from SAN to ATL delayed?
- 19% of SAN–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 14 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from SAN to ATL?
- Delta Air Lines has the best on-time record on this route at 84%, based on 4,511 flights. 2 airlines flew SAN–ATL frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from SAN to ATL?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (92% on-time), while departures around 9 a.m. have the worst (53%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from SAN to ATL?
- The scheduled SAN–ATL flight time averages 4h 18m over 1,892 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 19% of the time.
- How often are SAN 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 SAN to ATL?
- December 2024 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 62% of arrivals on time. The best was April 2026 at 96%. If your dates are flexible, that 34-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 5,126 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.