Atlanta (ATL) to New Orleans (MSY): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
When you fly ATL to MSY matters as much as anything else about the booking: the route swung from 89% on-time in September 2025 to just 56% in July 2024. Across the full period the route averages 77% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (86% vs 70%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 77%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 15 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.8%
- Flights/day
- 11
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 34m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 425 mi
Best airline from ATL to MSY
4 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Linesmost reliable | 79% | 14 min | 1.8% | 6,793 |
| Southwest Airlines | 77% | 15 min | 1.0% | 1,091 |
| Spirit Airlines | 74% | 20 min | 2.2% | 694 |
| Frontier Airlines | 61% | 31 min | 2.0% | 306 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from ATL to MSY
Aim for departures around 7 a.m. (92% on-time); avoid 8 p.m. departures (60%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 76% | 16 min |
| Tuesday | 83% | 10 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 85% | 10 min |
| Thursday | 78% | 15 min |
| Friday | 75% | 16 min |
| Saturday | 76% | 17 min |
| Sunday | 71% | 22 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft33%
- Airline operations44%
- National airspace system15%
- Weather8%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from ATL to MSY delayed?
- 23% of ATL–MSY flights arrived 15 or more minutes late (the US DOT definition of a delay) between 2024-07 and 2026-07. The average arrival delay across completed flights was 15 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from ATL to MSY?
- Delta Air Lines has the best on-time record on this route at 79%, based on 6,793 flights. 4 airlines flew ATL–MSY frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from ATL to MSY?
- Departures around 7 a.m. have the best record (92% on-time), while departures around 8 p.m. have the worst (60%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from ATL to MSY?
- The scheduled ATL–MSY flight time averages 1h 34m over 425 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 23% of the time.
- How often are ATL to MSY flights cancelled?
- 1.8% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-07 and 2026-07, slightly above the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from ATL to MSY?
- July 2024 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 56% of arrivals on time. The best was September 2025 at 89%. If your dates are flexible, that 33-point gap is worth planning around.
Explore related pages
- Return route: MSY to ATL on-time stats
- Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport departure performance
- Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport airport reliability
- Delta Air Lines on-time record
- Southwest Airlines on-time record
- Spirit Airlines on-time record
- Frontier Airlines on-time record
More routes from ATL
Other ways to fly to New Orleans (MSY)
Related guides
Based on 8,887 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.