San Francisco (SFO) to Atlanta (ATL): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
The calendar drives reliability on SFO–ATL. February 2026 flights landed on schedule 89% of the time, but July 2026 dropped to 63% — a gap of 26 points. Across the full period the route averages 80% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (87% vs 74%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 80%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 15 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.0%
- Flights/day
- 9.2
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 4h 42m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 2,139 mi
Best airline from SFO to ATL
3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlinesmost reliable | 84% | 9 min | 0.5% | 1,309 |
| Delta Air Lines | 82% | 13 min | 0.9% | 5,000 |
| Frontier Airlines | 57% | 36 min | 3.4% | 612 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from SFO to ATL
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (92% on-time); avoid 4 p.m. departures (64%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 81% | 14 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 85% | 11 min |
| Wednesday | 83% | 12 min |
| Thursday | 79% | 15 min |
| Friday | 77% | 18 min |
| Saturday | 82% | 11 min |
| Sunday | 76% | 19 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft44%
- Airline operations41%
- National airspace system14%
- Weather2%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from SFO to ATL delayed?
- 20% of SFO–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 15 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from SFO to ATL?
- United Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 84%, based on 1,309 flights. 3 airlines flew SFO–ATL frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from SFO to ATL?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (92% on-time), while departures around 4 p.m. have the worst (64%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from SFO to ATL?
- The scheduled SFO–ATL flight time averages 4h 42m over 2,139 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 20% of the time.
- How often are SFO 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 SFO to ATL?
- July 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 63% of arrivals on time. The best was February 2026 at 89%. If your dates are flexible, that 26-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 6,921 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.