Flight time: Montreal to Atlanta
Montréal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL) → Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) · medium haul · intra north america
The flight from Montreal (YUL) to Atlanta (ATL) takes approximately 2h 23m to 2h 53m gate-to-gate, covering 1,600 km (994 mi). This medium-haul intra north america route uses a cruise speed of 780–850 km/h with 30–50 minutes of ground and air overhead.
- Route:
- Montreal (YUL) → Atlanta (ATL)
- Distance:
- 1,600 km (994 mi)
- Flight time:
- 2h 23m to 2h 53m gate-to-gate
- Route type:
- medium-haul, intra north america
- Cruise speed:
- 780–850 km/h
- Ground overhead:
- 30–50 minutes included
- Over water:
- No — continental
- Origin:
- Montréal-Trudeau International Airport, Canada (America/Toronto)
- Destination:
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, United States (America/New_York)
Route details
| Origin | Montreal, Canada (YUL) |
| Destination | Atlanta, United States (ATL) |
| Distance | 1,600 km (994 mi) |
| Flight time (low) | 2h 23m |
| Flight time (high) | 2h 53m |
| Route type | medium-haul, intra north america |
| Cruise speed | 780–850 km/h |
| Ground overhead | 30–50 minutes |
| Over water | No — continental routing |
| Time difference | Same time zone |
Distance breakdown: Montreal to Atlanta
The 1,600-km great-circle distance between Montreal (45.47°N, 73.74°W) and Atlanta (33.64°N, 84.43°W) spans 11.8° of latitude and 10.7° of longitude, trending primarily west. In miles, this is 994 mi or 864 nautical miles. The great-circle path — the shortest distance over Earth's curved surface — is calculated using the Haversine formula from the two airports' precise coordinates.
Cruise speed and flight phases
At 1,600 km, this medium-haul route falls in the operational sweet spot where aircraft reach cruise altitude for a meaningful portion of the flight. Effective cruise speeds of 780–850 km/h are typical, with narrow-body aircraft (A320neo, 737 MAX) handling the lower end and wide-body aircraft achieving speeds at the upper end. The 2h 23m to 2h 53m estimate accounts for approximately 20 minutes of combined climb and descent, with the remainder at efficient cruise altitude.
Ground time and routing overhead
Our 30–50 minutes overhead allowance covers: taxi-out at YUL, takeoff and initial climb, descent and approach at ATL, and taxi-in to the gate. Taxi times at YUL are typically 5–15 minutes depending on traffic. At ATL, arrival taxi and gate assignment can add 10–20 minutes, especially during busy arrival banks. Continental air traffic corridors between Montreal and Atlanta may add 3–8% beyond the great-circle distance. Standard instrument departures and arrivals at both airports use predefined routing that adds distance but ensures safe separation.
Return flight: Atlanta → Montreal
The return flight from Atlanta to Montreal is generally similar in duration to the outbound — typically within 10–20 minutes. Continental routes like this one are less affected by the jet stream asymmetry that makes oceanic east-west routes so uneven. The main variables affecting any difference are: prevailing winds at these latitudes (modest effect), different standard instrument departures/arrivals at each airport (minor effect), and air traffic congestion patterns that vary by time of day and direction.
Seasonal variation in flight times
Flight times between Montreal and Atlanta vary modestly by season — typically 10–20 minutes. Upper-level wind patterns shift with the seasons: winter generally brings stronger westerly winds at these latitudes, while summer patterns are more variable. Thunderstorm activity along the route corridor peaks in summer months, occasionally causing routing diversions that add distance. Winter operations may include de-icing delays at YUL, which extend the overall gate-to-gate time.
Airport information
Montréal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL) serves Montreal, Canada as a significant international airport. Flight frequency is good on major routes, with moderate taxi times. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is a major international hub in Atlanta, United States. As a tier-1 airport, it handles high traffic volumes, which means longer average taxi times but also higher flight frequency and competition that can benefit travelers on pricing.