Best Time to Fly DCA to MSY: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Ronald Reagan Washington National → Louis Armstrong New Orleans International
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
1,947 flights were scheduled from Washington (DCA) to New Orleans (MSY) in the last 12 months, and 73.4% of those that flew arrived on time, 4.2 points below the US average of 77.6%.
Republic Airways was the most punctual of the 4 airlines on the route at 82.8%, while Southwest Airlines trailed at 71.8%.
October has been the best month (84% on time) and Thursday the weakest day of the week (67%).
3.0% of flights were cancelled, versus 1.8% nationally.
DCA to MSY on-time performance by airline
Last 12 months. Airlines with fewer than 30 completed flights are marked “limited data”.
| Airline | On time | Avg delay when late | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republic Airways | 82.8% | 33 min | 0.0% | 204 |
| American Airlines | 73.3% | 81 min | 2.9% | 453 |
| PSA Airlines | 72.0% | 76 min | 5.1% | 586 |
| Southwest Airlines | 71.8% | 56 min | 2.1% | 704 |
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly DCA to MSY
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 3,833 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5am–6am | Limited data | 1 | |
| 6am–7am | 93.6% | 2.5% | 80 |
| 7am–8am | 85.5% | 3.7% | 410 |
| 8am–9am | 79.5% | 2.4% | 332 |
| 9am–10am | 87.5% | 5.1% | 59 |
| 10am–11am | 70.7% | 0.0% | 41 |
| 11am–12pm | 76.7% | 1.8% | 615 |
| 12pm–1pm | 76.0% | 3.5% | 546 |
| 1pm–2pm | 69.8% | 7.8% | 218 |
| 2pm–3pm | 73.6% | 1.9% | 375 |
| 3pm–4pm | 70.9% | 3.0% | 338 |
| 4pm–5pm | Limited data | 7 | |
| 5pm–6pm | Limited data | 16 | |
| 6pm–7pm | 63.1% | 2.0% | 152 |
| 7pm–8pm | 66.7% | 5.1% | 316 |
| 8pm–9pm | 65.9% | 3.1% | 327 |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on DCA to MSY
On-time arrivals during holiday periods compared with all other days, last 24 months.
| Period | On time | vs other days | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving week (Tue before to Mon after) | 72.7% | -3.2 pts | 0.0% | 66 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 78.5% | +2.6 pts | 0.7% | 150 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 66.9% | -9.0 pts | 5.4% | 596 |
| All other days | 75.9% | — | 3.0% | 3,021 |
Monthly on-time trend
On-time arrival % each month, with the 12-month US average for reference.
What causes delays on this route
Share of reported delay minutes, last 12 months (BTS cause categories).