70% of flights from Washington to New Orleans arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is worse than the typical U.S. route. The 7 a.m. departures ran on time 85% of the time; the 7 p.m. ones 58%. Most reliable airline: American Airlines (71%). 13% 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 DCA → MSY: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 55% of the time. About 1 in 11 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 57 three hours or more; 3.3% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early70%
- 15–30 min late10%
- 30–60 min late6.4%
- 1–2 hours late5.5%
- 2–3 hours late2.0%
- 3+ hours late1.7%
- Diverted0.5%
- Cancelled3.3%
Share of all 1,948 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | 1,244 | 71% | 3.6% | −8 min | 9.8% | +75 min | PSA Airlines 48%, American Airlines 39%, Republic Airways 14% |
| Southwest Airlines | 704 | 69% | 2.8% | −1 min | 8.2% | +59 min | Southwest Airlines |
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 DCA). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
By airline and hour
| Departs | American Airlines | Southwest Airlines |
|---|---|---|
| 7 a.m. | 84% | — |
| 8 a.m. | 70% | — |
| 11 a.m. | 70% | 77% |
| noon | 76% | — |
| 2 p.m. | 66% | — |
| 3 p.m. | 63% | — |
| 7 p.m. | — | 58% |
| 8 p.m. | 64% | — |
Last flight of the day
On DCA → MSY, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 4.4% of the time, against 2.8% for its earlier flights (1.6× as often). It arrived 3+ hours late 2.5% of the time (earlier flights: 1.3%). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | 2:54 p.m. | 4.1% | 2.5% | 3.4% | first flight 8:29 a.m. |
| Southwest Airlines | 7:10 p.m. | 4.8% | 2.5% | 1.2% | first flight 11:35 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.
If you need to be in MSY tonight, book an earlier flight so there's a backup if it's cancelled.
By month
Each calendar month pooled over 2023–2026. Best: October (85%). Worst: July (59%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 295 | 72% | 4.8% |
| Tuesday | 289 | 75% | 3.8% |
| Wednesday | 287 | 71% | 2.1% |
| Thursday | 283 | 64% | 1.4% |
| Friday | 288 | 67% | 3.8% |
| Saturday | 202 | 78% | 3.0% |
| Sunday | 304 | 65% | 4.3% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: weather 37 · airline 18 · air traffic/airport 10
Month by month
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 27, 2026 | 7 | 0% | 1 |
| Jan 26, 2026 | 6 | 0% | 4 |
| Feb 19, 2026 | 6 | 0% | 0 |
| Aug 9, 2026 | 5 | 0% | 0 |
| Aug 3, 2026 | 5 | 0% | 2 |
Nearby airport alternatives
Other ways to make the same trip, using airports within 60 miles of Washington or New Orleans. IAD → MSY has been 15 points more reliable.
| Route | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| DCA → MSY (this route) | 1,948 | 70% | 3.3% |
| IAD → MSY Washington Dulles to New Orleans | 669 | 85% | 0.4% |
| BWI → MSY Baltimore/Washington to New Orleans | 1,134 | 75% | 1.1% |
Questions
How often are flights from DCA to MSY on time?
70% of 1,948 scheduled flights from Washington, DC to New Orleans, LA arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 3.3% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly DCA to MSY?
Flights scheduled to leave at 7 a.m. were the most reliable (85% on time). The 7 p.m. departures were the least (58%).
Which airline is most on time from DCA to MSY?
American Airlines: 71% of its 1,244 flights on the route arrived on time. Southwest Airlines: 69%.
What month has the most delays from DCA to MSY?
July (59% on time). The best month is October (85%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from DCA to MSY more likely to be cancelled?
Yes. Each airline's last DCA–MSY flight of the day was cancelled 4.4% of the time over the past year, against 2.8% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- MSY → DCA (return)
- Washington Reagan National (DCA) delays by hour
- Flights into New Orleans (MSY)
- American Airlines on-time record
- Southwest Airlines 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.