79% of flights from Atlanta to Houston arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is about the typical U.S. route. The 6 a.m. departures ran on time 92% of the time; the 8 p.m. ones 58%. Most reliable airline: Delta Air Lines (79%). 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 ATL → HOU: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 60% of the time. About 1 in 17 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 110 three hours or more; 1.4% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early79%
- 15–30 min late8.0%
- 30–60 min late5.7%
- 1–2 hours late3.9%
- 2–3 hours late1.2%
- 3+ hours late0.9%
- Diverted0.2%
- Cancelled1.4%
Share of all 2,847 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 | 1,461 | 79% | 0.8% | −7 min | 6.4% | +60 min | Southwest Airlines |
| Delta Air Lines | 1,386 | 79% | 2.1% | −8 min | 5.6% | +56 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 ATL). 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. | 92% | — |
| 8 a.m. | — | 87% |
| 11 a.m. | — | 86% |
| noon | 86% | 78% |
| 3 p.m. | — | 73% |
| 4 p.m. | — | 73% |
| 6 p.m. | 66% | — |
| 9 p.m. | — | 76% |
Last flight of the day
On ATL → HOU, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 0.8% of the time, against 1.7% for its earlier flights, so here the last flight is actually the safer one. It arrived 3+ hours late 1.0% of the time (earlier flights: 0.9%). 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 | 8:45 p.m. | 1.1% | 0.8% | 2.5% | first flight 8:41 a.m. |
| Southwest Airlines | 8:10 p.m. | 0.5% | 1.1% | 0.9% | first flight 6:20 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: February (87%). Worst: July (66%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 431 | 78% | 1.6% |
| Tuesday | 410 | 81% | 0.5% |
| Wednesday | 406 | 84% | 0.7% |
| Thursday | 416 | 80% | 0.7% |
| Friday | 422 | 76% | 1.4% |
| Saturday | 340 | 76% | 1.8% |
| Sunday | 422 | 75% | 3.3% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: airline 29 · weather 10 · air traffic/airport 2
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 1509 | 8:10 a.m. | 365 | 86% | 3.6% | −9 min | Delta Air Lines |
| DL 1195 | 11:05 a.m. | 261 | 83% | 0.8% | −10 min | Delta Air Lines |
| DL 2381 | 2:59 p.m. | 235 | 77% | 2.1% | −7 min | Delta Air Lines |
| DL 2051 | 9:15 p.m. | 365 | 71% | 1.1% | −3 min | Delta Air Lines |
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 16, 2026 | 8 | 13% | 2 |
| May 1, 2026 | 8 | 13% | 1 |
| Jul 13, 2026 | 8 | 13% | 1 |
| May 23, 2026 | 6 | 17% | 0 |
| Mar 7, 2026 | 6 | 17% | 0 |
Nearby airport alternatives
Other ways to make the same trip, using airports within 60 miles of Atlanta or Houston. None has been clearly more reliable than ATL → HOU.
| Route | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| ATL → HOU (this route) | 2,847 | 79% | 1.4% |
| ATL → IAH Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson to Houston Bush Intercontinental | 5,279 | 76% | 1.7% |
Questions
How often are flights from ATL to HOU on time?
79% of 2,847 scheduled flights from Atlanta, GA to Houston, TX arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 1.4% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly ATL to HOU?
Flights scheduled to leave at 6 a.m. were the most reliable (92% on time). The 8 p.m. departures were the least (58%).
Which airline is most on time from ATL to HOU?
Delta Air Lines: 79% of its 1,386 flights on the route arrived on time. Southwest Airlines: 79%.
What month has the most delays from ATL to HOU?
July (66% on time). The best month is February (87%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from ATL to HOU more likely to be cancelled?
No, the opposite. Each airline's last ATL–HOU flight of the day was cancelled 0.8% of the time over the past year, against 1.7% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- HOU → ATL (return)
- Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) delays by hour
- Flights into Houston Hobby (HOU)
- 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.