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Route on-time record

ATL to DCA: most on-time flights and the best time to fly

Atlanta (Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport) to Washington (Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport). 6,817 nonstop flights in Jun 2025 to May 2026, 69% arrived within 15 minutes and 3.4% were cancelled. The most reliable flight number was Republic 4782 at 8:35 AM.

Flying on a specific date? We’ll adjust for the month, the weekday and the forecast.

ATL → DCA

Atlanta to Washington: 6,817 nonstop flights a year

On time (12 months)

69%

Cancelled

3.4%

avg delay 23 min

Best time to leave

Before 9 AM

87% on time vs 54% 6 to 9 PM

Most reliable airline

Southwest

72% chance on time

Check ATL to DCA fares

Lowest nonstop fare seen in the next two months: $67 (Southwest 2357 on 2026-11-17). Fares open on our travel partner (Aviasales). Pick the flight number you chose here.

Most reliable nonstop flights

Ranked by the chance the flight operates and arrives within 15 minutes of schedule, from Jun 2025 to May 2026 records.

  1. #1 · Republic 4782 · sold as American Eagle, Delta Connection or United Express

    8:35 AM → 10:30 AM1h 55m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-20.

    83%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    87%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    11 min
    • Arrived on time 87% of the time (31 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Never cancelled in 31 scheduled flights.
    • Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 87% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 54%).
    • Departs outside ATL's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 59% of its 96 ground stops and delay programs started).

    Limited track record · 31 flights

    Find 8:35 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  2. #2 · Southwest 2794

    8:20 AM → 10:05 AM1h 45m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-30. Same departure also flew as Southwest 271; its record covers all of them.

    83%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    82%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    17 min
    • Arrived on time 82% of the time (57 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Never cancelled in 57 scheduled flights.
    • Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 87% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 54%).
    • Departs outside ATL's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 59% of its 96 ground stops and delay programs started).

    Limited track record · 57 flights

    Find Southwest 2794 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  3. #3 · PSA 5501 · sold as American Eagle

    6:00 AM → 8:06 AM2h 06m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as PSA 5050, 5028; its record covers all of them.

    82%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    89%
    Cancelled
    7.6%
    Avg arrival delay
    12 min
    • Arrived on time 89% of the time (73 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Cancelled 7.6% of the time (6 of 79).
    • Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 87% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 54%).
    • Departs outside ATL's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 59% of its 96 ground stops and delay programs started).

    Moderate track record · 73 flights

    Find 6:00 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  4. #4 · Delta 926

    7:25 AM → 9:10 AM1h 45m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.

    79%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    83%
    Cancelled
    4.4%
    Avg arrival delay
    9 min
    • Arrived on time 83% of the time (346 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Cancelled 4.4% of the time (16 of 362).
    • Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 87% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 54%).
    • Departs outside ATL's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 59% of its 96 ground stops and delay programs started).

    Strong track record · 346 flights

    Find Delta 926 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  5. #5 · Southwest 225

    9:15 AM → 11:05 AM1h 50m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.

    79%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    80%
    Cancelled
    3.2%
    Avg arrival delay
    23 min
    • Arrived on time 80% of the time (30 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Cancelled 3.2% of the time (1 of 31).
    • Departs outside ATL's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 59% of its 96 ground stops and delay programs started).
    • Short track record (30 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.

    Limited track record · 30 flights

    Find Southwest 225 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  6. #6 · Delta 380

    9:29 AM → 11:10 AM1h 45m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.

    78%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    80%
    Cancelled
    1.4%
    Avg arrival delay
    10 min
    • Arrived on time 80% of the time (360 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Departs outside ATL's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 59% of its 96 ground stops and delay programs started).

    Strong track record · 360 flights

    Find Delta 380 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  7. #7 · Delta 737

    11:00 AM → 12:40 PM1h 40m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.

    78%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    81%
    Cancelled
    2.2%
    Avg arrival delay
    11 min
    • Arrived on time 81% of the time (355 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Departs outside ATL's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 59% of its 96 ground stops and delay programs started).

    Strong track record · 355 flights

    Find Delta 737 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  8. #8 · Southwest 2892

    12:15 PM → 2:00 PM1h 45m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-04.

    77%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    77%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    21 min
    • Arrived on time 77% of the time (13 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Departs outside ATL's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 59% of its 96 ground stops and delay programs started).
    • Lands inside DCA's trouble window: 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
    • 76% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.

    Limited track record · 13 flights

    Find Southwest 2892 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  9. #9 · PSA 5051 · sold as American Eagle

    10:00 AM → 11:59 AM1h 59m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-20.

    75%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    79%
    Cancelled
    4.1%
    Avg arrival delay
    55 min
    • Arrived on time 79% of the time (70 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Cancelled 4.1% of the time (3 of 73).
    • Departs outside ATL's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 59% of its 96 ground stops and delay programs started).

    Moderate track record · 70 flights

    Find 10:00 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  10. #10 · PSA 5216 · sold as American Eagle

    8:42 AM → 10:43 AM2h 01m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-06.

    75%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    67%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    93 min
    • Arrived on time 67% of the time (21 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 87% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 54%).
    • Departs outside ATL's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 59% of its 96 ground stops and delay programs started).
    • Short track record (21 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.

    Limited track record · 21 flights

    Find 8:42 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales

Airlines on this route

Season-adjusted chance of operating and arriving on time.

  • Southwest Airlines72%

    1,169 flights · 73% on time as flown · 1.9% cancel

  • Republic Airways (sold as American Eagle, Delta Connection or United Express)71%

    491 flights · 74% on time as flown · 3.0% cancel

  • PSA Airlines (sold as American Eagle)69%

    1,002 flights · 75% on time as flown · 7.0% cancel

  • American Airlines67%

    74 flights · 69% on time as flown · 3.6% cancel

  • Envoy Air (sold as American Eagle)66%

    251 flights · 69% on time as flown · 5.0% cancel

  • Delta Air Lines64%

    3,830 flights · 66% on time as flown · 2.7% cancel

On time by departure time

All airlines, scheduled local departure, Jun 2025 to May 2026.

  • Before 9 AM87%

    1,214 flights · avg delay 12 min

  • 9 AM to noon82%

    1,406 flights · avg delay 14 min

  • Noon to 3 PM69%

    687 flights · avg delay 18 min

  • 3 to 6 PM59%

    1,679 flights · avg delay 31 min

  • 6 to 9 PM54%

    1,358 flights · avg delay 37 min

  • After 9 PM66%

    473 flights · avg delay 20 min

Best day: Saturday (81%). Worst: Friday (70%).

Smarter routing

Nearby airports that run more on time

  • ATL → IAD 74% chance on time

    Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport to Washington Dulles International Airport · 3,949 flights a year · 23 mi from your airports · yours: 67%

    Rank flightsFares

  • ATL → BWI 72% chance on time

    Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport · 5,430 flights a year · 30 mi from your airports · yours: 67%

    Rank flightsFares

On time by month

All airlines, Jun 2023 to May 2026. Several years per month, so one stormy season doesn't define a month. Travel-month estimates use this seasonal pattern.

J
76
F
70
M
71
A
73
M
68
J
71
J
63
A
74
S
83
O
85
N
81
D
75

What delays this route

  • Air traffic control and airport volume35%
  • Late-arriving aircraft30%
  • Airline (crew, maintenance, boarding)30%
  • Severe weather5%

Share of delay minutes by the cause airlines report to the US DOT.

Historical odds, not a guarantee. Built from the US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics on-time reports (Jun 2025 to May 2026), FAA ground stop and delay program advisories, and 20 years of airport weather observations. Covers US airlines that report to the DOT; schedules are flights operated recently, so confirm times when you book. ATIS Alerts is not affiliated with any airline. Fares are what Aviasales travelers saw in recent searches (USD, one way, 1 adult), not live quotes; the partner site shows the current price. Fare links go to our travel partner and may earn us a commission at no cost to you. Affiliate disclosure

ATL to DCA questions

What time of day is best to fly ATL to DCA?
Before 9 AM: 87% of flights arrived on time, against 54% for departures 6 to 9 PM. Later flights inherit delays from earlier ones, so the first departures of the day usually run best.
Which airline is most on time from ATL to DCA?
Southwest, with a season-adjusted 72% chance of operating and arriving on time over 1,169 flights. The adjustment compares each airline with what the route did in the months it flew, so a carrier that skipped a stormy month gets no free credit.
What is the worst month for delays on ATL to DCA?
July (63% on time); the best was October (85%), averaged over Jun 2023 to May 2026.
Is this a prediction for my flight?
No. These are historical odds from the US DOT on-time reports, FAA advisories and airport weather records. Check your flight status and the FAA delay board on the day you fly.

More routes from ATL

Live status: FAA delays and ground stops