Is 45 minutes enough at ATL? 18% of inbound flights landed too late for it, allowing 30 minutes to reach the next gate. Book 75 minutes to keep the risk under 1 in 10, or 120 in July.
Separately, 2.2% of flights into ATL were cancelled or diverted (4.0% in July). That isn't a missed connection in the same sense: on one booking the airline rebooks you, though it can still cost you the day.
Check your exact itinerary through ATL →
Missed-connection risk by layover and month
Share of flights that landed at ATL too late for the connection (cancellations not included), pooled over 2023–2026. Read across your travel month.
| Layover | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 min | 23% | 19% | 22% | 20% | 26% | 24% | 32% | 22% | 16% | 15% | 16% | 22% | 21% |
| 50 min | 17% | 13% | 16% | 14% | 19% | 18% | 25% | 16% | 10% | 9% | 11% | 15% | 16% |
| 60 min | 13% | 9% | 12% | 10% | 14% | 14% | 20% | 13% | 8% | 7% | 8% | 11% | 12% |
| 75 min | 9% | 7% | 9% | 7% | 11% | 10% | 16% | 9% | 5% | 5% | 5% | 8% | 9% |
| 90 min | 7% | 5% | 7% | 5% | 8% | 8% | 13% | 7% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 6% | 7% |
| 120 min | 5% | 3% | 4% | 4% | 5% | 5% | 9% | 5% | 2% | 2% | 3% | 4% | 5% |
Counts flights that landed; cancelled and diverted inbound flights are reported separately above. Assumes 30 minutes to get off the plane and reach the next gate, and that the onward flight leaves on time. A terminal change or re-checking bags needs more.
Late in the day is riskier
Share of flights that would miss a 60-minute connection, by scheduled arrival time at ATL (past 12 months). Delays pile up through the day.
Riskiest flights in
| From | Flights | Miss 60 min |
|---|---|---|
| FLL Fort Lauderdale | 7,366 | 20% |
| MIA Miami | 6,271 | 18% |
| HPN White Plains | 1,669 | 18% |
| MCO Orlando | 8,259 | 17% |
| ORD Chicago | 6,495 | 17% |
| MGM Montgomery | 1,713 | 17% |
| JFK New York | 4,227 | 17% |
| LGA New York | 8,500 | 17% |
| CRW Charleston | 1,341 | 17% |
| DFW Dallas | 6,672 | 17% |
| EWR Newark | 6,252 | 16% |
| BOS Boston | 5,050 | 16% |
Safest flights in
| From | Flights | Miss 60 min |
|---|---|---|
| PDX Portland | 1,544 | 6% |
| PIT Pittsburgh | 2,737 | 7% |
| GSP Greer | 2,805 | 7% |
| SAN San Diego | 2,352 | 7% |
| GSO Greensboro | 2,789 | 8% |
| DAY Dayton | 1,441 | 8% |
| CHS Charleston | 3,344 | 8% |
| SDF Louisville | 2,754 | 8% |
| SLC Salt Lake City | 2,974 | 8% |
| MKE Milwaukee | 2,264 | 8% |
| MYR Myrtle Beach | 1,511 | 8% |
| IND Indianapolis | 3,122 | 8% |
Last flights of the day from ATL
If your inbound runs late and you miss one of these, the next flight is usually the next morning. Typical last scheduled departure over the past three months:
| To | Last departure | Flights / day |
|---|---|---|
| JFK New York | 8:30 p.m. | 10.9 |
| LGA New York | 9:00 p.m. | 20.8 |
| MDW Chicago | 9:15 p.m. | 10.1 |
| LAS Las Vegas | 9:20 p.m. | 12.7 |
| PHX Phoenix | 9:45 p.m. | 9 |
| DCA Washington | 9:59 p.m. | 17.7 |
| ORD Chicago | 10:40 p.m. | 19.2 |
| EWR Newark | 10:40 p.m. | 15.9 |
| CLT Charlotte | 10:41 p.m. | 12.4 |
| IAH Houston | 10:44 p.m. | 14.3 |
| BWI Baltimore | 10:45 p.m. | 15.4 |
| BOS Boston | 10:45 p.m. | 15 |
| MSP Minneapolis | 10:45 p.m. | 9.7 |
| JAX Jacksonville | 10:48 p.m. | 11.8 |
| FLL Fort Lauderdale | 10:50 p.m. | 18.5 |
| MIA Miami | 10:50 p.m. | 16.6 |
| IAD Washington | 10:53 p.m. | 11.8 |
| DFW Dallas | 10:54 p.m. | 17.7 |
| LAX Los Angeles | 10:54 p.m. | 13.4 |
| PHL Philadelphia | 10:56 p.m. | 17.3 |
| TPA Tampa | 10:59 p.m. | 17.3 |
| DEN Denver | 10:59 p.m. | 16.6 |
| DTW Detroit | 10:59 p.m. | 13.2 |
| AUS Austin | 10:59 p.m. | 12.4 |
| BNA Nashville | 11:00 p.m. | 12.4 |
| MEM Memphis | 11:00 p.m. | 10.8 |
| MSY New Orleans | 11:05 p.m. | 10 |
| RDU Raleigh | 11:10 p.m. | 13.1 |
| STL St. Louis | 11:10 p.m. | 10.5 |
| MCO Orlando | 11:25 p.m. | 21.9 |
Questions
Is 45 minutes enough for a connection at ATL?
Often, not always. Over the past year 18% of flights into Atlanta landed too late to leave 30 minutes to reach the next gate on a 45-minute layover. With 60 minutes it was 12%; with 90, 7%. Separately, 2.2% of inbound flights were cancelled or diverted; on one booking the airline rebooks you.
How long a layover do I need at ATL?
To keep the risk of a late inbound below 1 in 10, about 75 minutes on an average month and 120 minutes in July, the worst month. Add time if you change terminals or need to re-check bags.
An estimate from past arrival delays, not a guarantee. On one ticket, the airline will rebook you if you misconnect. On separate tickets you're on your own, so leave far more time. Method.