68% of flights from New Orleans to Washington arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is worse than the typical U.S. route. The 8 a.m. departures ran on time 86% of the time; the 5 p.m. ones 48%. Most reliable airline: American Airlines (69%). 16% 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 MSY → DCA: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 48% of the time. About 1 in 8 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 35 three hours or more; 3.0% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early68%
- 15–30 min late8.5%
- 30–60 min late7.7%
- 1–2 hours late6.8%
- 2–3 hours late2.6%
- 3+ hours late2.8%
- Diverted0.6%
- Cancelled3.0%
Share of all 1,949 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 | 1,245 | 69% | 4.3% | −5 min | 12.8% | +105 min | PSA Airlines 47%, American Airlines 39%, Republic Airways 14% |
| Southwest Airlines | 704 | 67% | 0.9% | +1 min | 11.2% | +66 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 MSY). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 6 a.m. | 81% | — |
| 10 a.m. | 73% | 84% |
| 2 p.m. | 68% | — |
| 3 p.m. | 63% | — |
| 5 p.m. | 56% | 40% |
Last flight of the day
On MSY → DCA, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 3.1% of the time, against 3.1% for its earlier flights, about the same. It arrived 3+ hours late 2.8% of the time (earlier flights: 2.9%). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | 5:24 p.m. | 5.0% | 1.7% | 4.0% | first flight 10:57 a.m. |
| Southwest Airlines | 5:25 p.m. | 0.9% | 4.1% | 0.9% | first flight 8:45 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: November (81%). Worst: July (53%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 295 | 69% | 4.4% |
| Tuesday | 289 | 70% | 3.8% |
| Wednesday | 287 | 70% | 2.1% |
| Thursday | 284 | 67% | 0.4% |
| Friday | 288 | 66% | 2.4% |
| Saturday | 202 | 77% | 3.5% |
| Sunday | 304 | 60% | 4.6% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: weather 43 · airline 8 · air traffic/airport 8
Month by month
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 7, 2025 | 6 | 0% | 1 |
| Jan 26, 2026 | 6 | 0% | 5 |
| Jan 25, 2026 | 5 | 0% | 5 |
| May 25, 2026 | 5 | 0% | 0 |
| Jul 14, 2026 | 5 | 0% | 2 |
Nearby airport alternatives
Other ways to make the same trip, using airports within 60 miles of New Orleans or Washington. MSY → IAD has been 23 points more reliable.
| Route | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSY → DCA (this route) | 1,949 | 68% | 3.0% |
| MSY → IAD New Orleans to Washington Dulles | 669 | 91% | 0.4% |
| MSY → BWI New Orleans to Baltimore/Washington | 1,135 | 78% | 1.0% |
Questions
How often are flights from MSY to DCA on time?
68% of 1,949 scheduled flights from New Orleans, LA to Washington, DC arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 3.0% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly MSY to DCA?
Flights scheduled to leave at 8 a.m. were the most reliable (86% on time). The 5 p.m. departures were the least (48%).
Which airline is most on time from MSY to DCA?
American Airlines: 69% of its 1,245 flights on the route arrived on time. Southwest Airlines: 67%.
What month has the most delays from MSY to DCA?
July (53% on time). The best month is November (81%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from MSY to DCA more likely to be cancelled?
Not much. Each airline's last MSY–DCA flight of the day was cancelled 3.1% of the time over the past year, against 3.1% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- DCA → MSY (return)
- New Orleans (MSY) delays by hour
- Flights into Washington Reagan National (DCA)
- 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.