Best Time to Fly MSY to SFO: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International → San Francisco International
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
524 flights were scheduled from New Orleans (MSY) to San Francisco (SFO) in the last 12 months, and 76.2% of those that flew arrived on time, 1.5 points below the US average of 77.6%.
United Airlines was the only reporting airline with regular flights on this route.
Over 24 months, Saturday was the most reliable day (85% on time) and June the worst month (48%).
The cancellation rate was 0.6% (US average 1.8%).
MSY to SFO 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlines | 76.3% | 71 min | 0.6% | 523 |
| American Airlines | Limited data | 1 | ||
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly MSY to SFO
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 1,056 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6am–7am | 92.1% | 0.0% | 89 |
| 7am–8am | 88.5% | 0.0% | 52 |
| 8am–9am | 84.8% | 3.6% | 137 |
| 9am–10am | 83.2% | 0.8% | 126 |
| 1pm–2pm | Limited data | 4 | |
| 2pm–3pm | 86.3% | 0.0% | 117 |
| 4pm–5pm | Limited data | 1 | |
| 5pm–6pm | 91.2% | 0.0% | 68 |
| 6pm–7pm | 70.5% | 0.0% | 261 |
| 7pm–8pm | 59.2% | 1.0% | 195 |
| 8pm–9pm | Limited data | 6 | |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on MSY to SFO
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) | Limited data | 27 | ||
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 69.8% | -11.2 pts | 1.9% | 54 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 54.9% | -26.1 pts | 0.8% | 123 |
| All other days | 81.0% | — | 0.7% | 852 |
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).