Best Time to Fly DTW to ATL: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Detroit Metro Wayne County → Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
Over the last 12 months, 78.9% of Detroit (DTW) to Atlanta (ATL) flights arrived on time (4,857 scheduled flights). That is 1.3 points above the national average of 77.6%.
Among 3 airlines, Delta Air Lines led with 81.3% on time and Frontier Airlines was last with 66.3%.
Over 24 months, Wednesday was the most reliable day (84% on time) and July the worst month (69%).
The cancellation rate was 0.8% (US average 1.8%).
DTW 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Lines | 81.3% | 68 min | 0.5% | 3,742 |
| Spirit Airlines | 75.0% | 70 min | 2.0% | 592 |
| Frontier Airlines | 66.3% | 108 min | 1.7% | 523 |
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly DTW to ATL
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 9,781 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5am–6am | 90.6% | 1.2% | 863 |
| 6am–7am | 86.1% | 1.1% | 654 |
| 7am–8am | 84.2% | 0.4% | 764 |
| 8am–9am | 87.4% | 0.6% | 696 |
| 9am–10am | 85.0% | 0.2% | 528 |
| 10am–11am | 85.6% | 1.1% | 752 |
| 11am–12pm | 83.7% | 0.0% | 190 |
| 12pm–1pm | 74.1% | 0.9% | 790 |
| 1pm–2pm | 69.8% | 0.0% | 140 |
| 2pm–3pm | 81.4% | 0.9% | 773 |
| 3pm–4pm | 73.5% | 0.4% | 277 |
| 4pm–5pm | 76.4% | 0.6% | 818 |
| 5pm–6pm | 64.3% | 1.5% | 270 |
| 6pm–7pm | 70.5% | 0.6% | 787 |
| 7pm–8pm | 71.6% | 0.9% | 559 |
| 8pm–9pm | 69.8% | 0.6% | 313 |
| 9pm–10pm | 73.8% | 0.9% | 531 |
| 10pm–11pm | 68.1% | 4.0% | 75 |
| 11pm–12am | Limited data | 1 | |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on DTW 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) | 67.5% | -14.6 pts | 0.0% | 189 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 64.9% | -17.3 pts | 1.1% | 354 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 72.5% | -9.7 pts | 1.0% | 1,729 |
| All other days | 82.2% | — | 0.7% | 7,509 |
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).