Best Time to Fly DCA to ATL: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Ronald Reagan Washington National → Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
6,801 flights were scheduled from Washington (DCA) to Atlanta (ATL) in the last 12 months, and 78.3% of those that flew arrived on time, 0.7 points above the US average of 77.6%.
Among 6 airlines, Envoy Air led with 81.5% on time and PSA Airlines was last with 67.4%.
Over 24 months, Saturday was the most reliable day (85% on time) and July the worst month (64%).
The cancellation rate was 3.3% (US average 1.8%).
DCA to ATL on-time performance by airline
Last 12 months. Airlines with fewer than 30 completed flights are marked “limited data”.
| Airline | On time | Avg delay when late | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Envoy Air | 81.5% | 64 min | 1.5% | 264 |
| Delta Air Lines | 80.7% | 84 min | 2.6% | 3,842 |
| Republic Airways | 79.8% | 54 min | 3.5% | 453 |
| Southwest Airlines | 79.2% | 61 min | 1.9% | 1,106 |
| American Airlines | 74.4% | 78 min | 0.0% | 39 |
| PSA Airlines | 67.4% | 82 min | 7.8% | 1,097 |
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly DCA to ATL
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 13,684 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6am–7am | 91.1% | 2.5% | 2,170 |
| 7am–8am | 83.3% | 3.4% | 933 |
| 8am–9am | 85.4% | 2.4% | 1,211 |
| 9am–10am | 84.3% | 2.5% | 393 |
| 10am–11am | 86.6% | 2.4% | 950 |
| 11am–12pm | 81.3% | 1.6% | 666 |
| 12pm–1pm | 80.9% | 0.8% | 780 |
| 1pm–2pm | 77.9% | 2.4% | 1,170 |
| 2pm–3pm | 64.9% | 2.7% | 371 |
| 3pm–4pm | 75.0% | 1.8% | 707 |
| 4pm–5pm | 69.9% | 2.2% | 536 |
| 5pm–6pm | 63.6% | 8.0% | 510 |
| 6pm–7pm | 64.4% | 3.5% | 1,044 |
| 7pm–8pm | 69.8% | 3.9% | 1,265 |
| 8pm–9pm | 73.7% | 4.7% | 836 |
| 9pm–10pm | 52.6% | 15.9% | 113 |
| 10pm–11pm | Limited data | 29 | |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on DCA to ATL
On-time arrivals during holiday periods compared with all other days, last 24 months.
| Period | On time | vs other days | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving week (Tue before to Mon after) | 76.6% | -4.0 pts | 0.4% | 249 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 80.7% | -0.0 pts | 0.8% | 496 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 68.8% | -11.8 pts | 5.6% | 2,319 |
| All other days | 80.7% | — | 2.7% | 10,620 |
Monthly on-time trend
On-time arrival % each month, with the 12-month US average for reference.
What causes delays on this route
Share of reported delay minutes, last 12 months (BTS cause categories).