78% of flights from Houston to Atlanta arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is about the typical U.S. route. The 6 a.m. departures ran on time 89% of the time; the 7 p.m. ones 63%. Most reliable airline: Delta Air Lines (82%). 8% 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 HOU → ATL: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 58% of the time. About 1 in 15 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 114 three hours or more; 1.3% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early78%
- 15–30 min late8.0%
- 30–60 min late5.9%
- 1–2 hours late4.5%
- 2–3 hours late1.2%
- 3+ hours late0.9%
- Diverted0.4%
- Cancelled1.3%
Share of all 2,850 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Airlines | 1,464 | 74% | 0.6% | 0 min | 6.8% | +50 min | Southwest Airlines |
| Delta Air Lines | 1,386 | 82% | 2.1% | −10 min | 6.3% | +96 min | Delta Air Lines |
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 HOU). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
By airline and hour
| Departs | Southwest Airlines | Delta Air Lines |
|---|---|---|
| 6 a.m. | — | 87% |
| 10 a.m. | 81% | 86% |
| 11 a.m. | 86% | — |
| 1 p.m. | — | 81% |
| 2 p.m. | 72% | 76% |
| 5 p.m. | 58% | 75% |
| 6 p.m. | 64% | 83% |
| 7 p.m. | 63% | — |
Last flight of the day
On HOU → ATL, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 1.4% of the time, against 1.3% for its earlier flights, about the same. It arrived 3+ hours late 1.5% of the time (earlier flights: 0.7%). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Lines | 5:17 p.m. | 2.2% | 2.2% | 2.1% | first flight 6:00 a.m. |
| Southwest Airlines | 7:25 p.m. | 0.5% | 0.8% | 0.6% | first flight 6:00 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.
By month
Each calendar month pooled over 2023–2026. Best: September (89%). Worst: July (68%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 431 | 77% | 0.9% |
| Tuesday | 410 | 78% | 0.5% |
| Wednesday | 406 | 81% | 0.5% |
| Thursday | 416 | 81% | 0.2% |
| Friday | 423 | 78% | 1.4% |
| Saturday | 340 | 77% | 2.4% |
| Sunday | 424 | 72% | 3.5% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: airline 26 · weather 11 · air traffic/airport 1
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 2557 | 6:00 a.m. | 365 | 87% | 1.6% | −7 min | Delta Air Lines |
| DL 1509 | 10:50 a.m. | 365 | 85% | 3.3% | −10 min | Delta Air Lines |
| DL 1195 | 1:13 p.m. | 261 | 78% | 0.8% | −10 min | Delta Air Lines |
| DL 2381 | 5:04 p.m. | 239 | 74% | 1.7% | −12 min | Delta Air Lines |
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 16, 2026 | 8 | 0% | 1 |
| May 23, 2026 | 6 | 0% | 0 |
| May 27, 2026 | 8 | 13% | 0 |
| Dec 7, 2025 | 8 | 13% | 1 |
| Jul 7, 2026 | 8 | 25% | 0 |
Nearby airport alternatives
Other ways to make the same trip, using airports within 60 miles of Houston or Atlanta. None has been clearly more reliable than HOU → ATL.
| Route | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| HOU → ATL (this route) | 2,850 | 78% | 1.3% |
| IAH → ATL Houston Bush Intercontinental to Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson | 5,272 | 76% | 1.8% |
Questions
How often are flights from HOU to ATL on time?
78% of 2,850 scheduled flights from Houston, TX to Atlanta, GA arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 1.3% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly HOU to ATL?
Flights scheduled to leave at 6 a.m. were the most reliable (89% on time). The 7 p.m. departures were the least (63%).
Which airline is most on time from HOU to ATL?
Delta Air Lines: 82% of its 1,386 flights on the route arrived on time. Southwest Airlines: 74%.
What month has the most delays from HOU to ATL?
July (68% on time). The best month is September (89%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from HOU to ATL more likely to be cancelled?
Not much. Each airline's last HOU–ATL flight of the day was cancelled 1.4% of the time over the past year, against 1.3% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- ATL → HOU (return)
- Houston Hobby (HOU) delays by hour
- Flights into Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL)
- Southwest Airlines on-time record
- Delta Air Lines 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.