Best Time to Fly SFO to MSY: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
San Francisco International → Louis Armstrong New Orleans International
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
524 flights were scheduled from San Francisco (SFO) to New Orleans (MSY) in the last 12 months, and 83.5% of those that flew arrived on time, 5.9 points above the US average of 77.6%.
United Airlines was the only reporting airline with regular flights on this route.
Over 24 months, Tuesday was the most reliable day (88% on time) and May the worst month (68%).
The cancellation rate was 0.2% (US average 1.8%).
SFO 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlines | 83.5% | 69 min | 0.2% | 523 |
| American Airlines | Limited data | 1 | ||
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly SFO to MSY
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 | Limited data | 4 | |
| 7am–8am | 96.7% | 0.0% | 122 |
| 8am–9am | Limited data | 2 | |
| 9am–10am | Limited data | 5 | |
| 10am–11am | 88.8% | 0.0% | 172 |
| 11am–12pm | 82.0% | 1.5% | 265 |
| 12pm–1pm | 72.5% | 0.0% | 139 |
| 1pm–2pm | 77.2% | 0.0% | 57 |
| 2pm–3pm | Limited data | 1 | |
| 4pm–5pm | 77.2% | 0.6% | 160 |
| 5pm–6pm | 89.5% | 0.0% | 76 |
| 6pm–7pm | Limited data | 19 | |
| 7pm–8pm | 100.0% | 0.0% | 31 |
| 11pm–12am | Limited data | 3 | |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on SFO 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) | Limited data | 28 | ||
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 78.8% | -5.1 pts | 1.9% | 54 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 77.2% | -6.7 pts | 0.0% | 123 |
| All other days | 84.0% | — | 0.6% | 851 |
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).