66% of flights from Atlanta to Washington arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is worse than the typical U.S. route. The 6 a.m. departures ran on time 84% of the time; the 7 p.m. ones 49%. Most reliable airline: Southwest Airlines (68%). 14% of flights arrived more than an hour late or not at all.
How late?
The on-time rate treats a flight 20 minutes late the same as one 5 hours late. Here's the split for ATL → DCA: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 56% of the time. About 1 in 10 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 50 three hours or more; 3.4% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early66%
- 15–30 min late11%
- 30–60 min late8.9%
- 1–2 hours late5.9%
- 2–3 hours late2.2%
- 3+ hours late2.0%
- Diverted0.5%
- Cancelled3.4%
Share of all 6,797 scheduled flights, past 12 months, by arrival time against schedule.
By airline
| Airline | Flights | On time | Cancelled | Typical arrival | 1h+ late | Avg when late | Operated by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Lines | 3,850 | 65% | 2.4% | +2 min | 9.8% | +60 min | Delta Air Lines |
| American Airlines | 1,872 | 67% | 6.4% | −6 min | 10.6% | +117 min | PSA Airlines 57%, Republic Airways 25%, Envoy 15%, American Airlines 2% |
| Southwest Airlines | 1,076 | 68% | 1.7% | −2 min | 10.7% | +67 min | Southwest Airlines |
Airline = the name on the ticket. Regional flights (e.g. "Delta Connection") count under the ticketing airline, and the operator is listed.
Best time of day to fly
On-time rate by scheduled departure hour (local time at ATL). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
By airline and hour
| Departs | Delta Air Lines | American Airlines | Southwest Airlines |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 a.m. | — | 83% | — |
| 7 a.m. | 80% | — | — |
| 8 a.m. | — | 79% | 82% |
| 9 a.m. | 79% | — | — |
| 10 a.m. | — | 72% | 76% |
| 11 a.m. | 77% | 76% | — |
| 1 p.m. | 68% | 63% | — |
| 2 p.m. | — | 64% | — |
| 3 p.m. | 54% | — | — |
| 4 p.m. | 62% | 46% | 58% |
| 5 p.m. | 53% | 60% | — |
| 6 p.m. | 56% | — | — |
| 7 p.m. | 50% | — | — |
| 8 p.m. | 65% | 46% | — |
| 9 p.m. | 65% | — | — |
Last flight of the day
On ATL → DCA, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 4.9% of the time, against 3.1% for its earlier flights (1.6× as often). It arrived 3+ hours late 2.6% of the time (earlier flights: 2.0%). It matters more than the numbers suggest. Miss an earlier flight and there's another one that evening; miss the last one and you're usually waiting until morning.
| Airline | Last departure | Last: cancelled | Last: 3h+ late | Earlier: cancelled | Next morning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | 8:07 p.m. | 10.4% | 5.5% | 5.4% | first flight 6:00 a.m. |
| Delta Air Lines | 9:59 p.m. | 2.7% | 1.1% | 2.4% | first flight 7:25 a.m. |
| Southwest Airlines | 8:50 p.m. | 1.4% | 1.1% | 1.8% | first flight 10:05 a.m. |
Last flight = the airline's last scheduled departure on this route that day, on days it flies the route at least twice; past 12 months. Times are typical scheduled times over the latest three months.
If you need to be in DCA tonight, book an earlier flight so there's a backup if it's cancelled.
By month
Each calendar month pooled over 2023–2026. Best: October (85%). Worst: July (53%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 1,054 | 66% | 4.1% |
| Tuesday | 980 | 70% | 3.0% |
| Wednesday | 1,029 | 70% | 1.8% |
| Thursday | 1,017 | 65% | 1.5% |
| Friday | 1,014 | 62% | 3.5% |
| Saturday | 742 | 74% | 3.5% |
| Sunday | 962 | 59% | 6.9% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: weather 138 · airline 50 · air traffic/airport 44
Month by month
Flight numbers on this route
Regular flights with at least 120 scheduled trips in the past year. Sorted by departure time.
| Flight | Departs | Flights | On time | Cancelled | Typical arrival | Operated by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DL 926 | 7:25 a.m. | 362 | 80% | 4.4% | −1 min | Delta Air Lines |
| DL 380 | 9:40 a.m. | 363 | 79% | 1.4% | −6 min | Delta Air Lines |
| DL 737 | 11:00 a.m. | 336 | 77% | 2.1% | −1 min | Delta Air Lines |
| DL 360 | 1:10 p.m. | 364 | 69% | 1.1% | +2 min | Delta Air Lines |
| DL 850 | 3:30 p.m. | 348 | 53% | 1.4% | +11 min | Delta Air Lines |
| DL 950 | 4:50 p.m. | 356 | 62% | 2.3% | +2 min | Delta Air Lines |
| DL 832 | 5:55 p.m. | 328 | 53% | 3.4% | +10 min | Delta Air Lines |
| DL 325 | 6:55 p.m. | 362 | 56% | 3.3% | +6 min | Delta Air Lines |
| DL 727 | 7:55 p.m. | 359 | 51% | 2.8% | +12 min | Delta Air Lines |
| DL 378 | 8:55 p.m. | 263 | 64% | 2.3% | +1 min | Delta Air Lines |
| DL 537 | 9:59 p.m. | 364 | 65% | 2.8% | −0 min | Delta Air Lines |
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 16, 2026 | 20 | 0% | 3 |
| Jan 25, 2026 | 19 | 0% | 19 |
| Jan 26, 2026 | 20 | 5% | 13 |
| Jun 12, 2026 | 19 | 11% | 6 |
| May 25, 2026 | 19 | 11% | 1 |
Nearby airport alternatives
Other ways to make the same trip, using airports within 60 miles of Atlanta or Washington. ATL → IAD has been 9 points more reliable.
| Route | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| ATL → DCA (this route) | 6,798 | 66% | 3.4% |
| ATL → IAD Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson to Washington Dulles | 4,100 | 75% | 2.1% |
| ATL → BWI Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson to Baltimore/Washington | 5,403 | 73% | 2.3% |
Questions
How often are flights from ATL to DCA on time?
66% of 6,798 scheduled flights from Atlanta, GA to Washington, DC arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 3.4% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly ATL to DCA?
Flights scheduled to leave at 6 a.m. were the most reliable (84% on time). The 7 p.m. departures were the least (49%).
Which airline is most on time from ATL to DCA?
Southwest Airlines: 68% of its 1,076 flights on the route arrived on time. Delta Air Lines: 65%. American Airlines: 67%.
What month has the most delays from ATL to DCA?
July (53% on time). The best month is October (85%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from ATL to DCA more likely to be cancelled?
Yes. Each airline's last ATL–DCA flight of the day was cancelled 4.9% of the time over the past year, against 3.1% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- DCA → ATL (return)
- Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) delays by hour
- Flights into Washington Reagan National (DCA)
- Delta Air Lines on-time record
- American Airlines on-time record
- Southwest Airlines on-time record
- Connecting off this flight? Check the risk
Domestic flights by the airlines that report to the U.S. DOT, plus their regional partners. "On time" means arriving less than 15 minutes after schedule; cancelled and diverted flights count as not on time. Past performance is a guide, not a forecast. Method.