77% of flights from New Orleans to Philadelphia arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is about the typical U.S. route. The 6 a.m. departures ran on time 88% of the time; the 4 p.m. ones 66%. Most reliable airline: American Airlines (78%). 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 MSY → PHL: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 41% of the time. About 1 in 11 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 34 three hours or more; 3.4% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early77%
- 15–30 min late4.9%
- 30–60 min late5.6%
- 1–2 hours late4.5%
- 2–3 hours late1.8%
- 3+ hours late2.9%
- Diverted0.1%
- Cancelled3.4%
Share of all 1,133 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 | 976 | 78% | 3.4% | −11 min | 8.8% | +133 min | American Airlines 70%, PSA Airlines 29%, Republic Airways 1% |
| Frontier Airlines | 157 | 66% | 3.8% | −5 min | 11.5% | +122 min | Frontier 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 |
|---|---|
| 6 a.m. | 88% |
| 11 a.m. | 79% |
| 4 p.m. | 66% |
Last flight of the day
On MSY → PHL, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 3.3% of the time, against 3.4% for its earlier flights, about the same. It arrived 3+ hours late 4.1% of the time (earlier flights: 2.5%). 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 | 4:33 p.m. | 3.3% | 4.1% | 3.4% | first flight 6:11 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: April (83%). Worst: July (64%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 184 | 72% | 5.4% |
| Tuesday | 133 | 80% | 5.3% |
| Wednesday | 137 | 88% | 0.7% |
| Thursday | 173 | 77% | 1.7% |
| Friday | 176 | 76% | 3.4% |
| Saturday | 148 | 76% | 3.4% |
| Sunday | 182 | 72% | 3.9% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: weather 28 · airline 7 · air traffic/airport 4
Month by month
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 6, 2025 | 4 | 0% | 0 |
| Jul 6, 2026 | 4 | 0% | 0 |
| Jun 18, 2026 | 4 | 0% | 0 |
| Dec 14, 2025 | 3 | 0% | 1 |
| Dec 22, 2025 | 3 | 0% | 0 |
Questions
How often are flights from MSY to PHL on time?
77% of 1,133 scheduled flights from New Orleans, LA to Philadelphia, PA arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 3.4% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly MSY to PHL?
Flights scheduled to leave at 6 a.m. were the most reliable (88% on time). The 4 p.m. departures were the least (66%).
Which airline is most on time from MSY to PHL?
American Airlines: 78% of its 976 flights on the route arrived on time. Frontier Airlines: 66%.
What month has the most delays from MSY to PHL?
July (64% on time). The best month is April (83%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from MSY to PHL more likely to be cancelled?
Not much. Each airline's last MSY–PHL flight of the day was cancelled 3.3% of the time over the past year, against 3.4% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- PHL → MSY (return)
- New Orleans (MSY) delays by hour
- Flights into Philadelphia (PHL)
- American Airlines on-time record
- Frontier 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.