Nashville (BNA) to New Orleans (MSY): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Nashville (BNA) to New Orleans (MSY) effectively runs on two schedules. In November 2024, 90% of arrivals were on time; in May 2026 that fell to 59% — a 31-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 79% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (90% vs 71%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 79%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 12 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.3%
- Flights/day
- 4.1
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 37m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 471 mi
Best airline from BNA to MSY
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Airlinesmost reliable | 79% | 12 min | 1.0% | 2,885 |
| Spirit Airlines | 79% | 16 min | 4.1% | 268 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from BNA to MSY
Aim for departures around 7 a.m. (95% on-time); avoid 6 p.m. departures (62%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 79% | 13 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 86% | 9 min |
| Wednesday | 82% | 9 min |
| Thursday | 76% | 14 min |
| Friday | 76% | 13 min |
| Saturday | 83% | 9 min |
| Sunday | 75% | 15 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft59%
- Airline operations27%
- National airspace system14%
- Weather1%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from BNA to MSY delayed?
- 21% of BNA–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 12 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from BNA to MSY?
- Southwest Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 79%, based on 2,885 flights. 2 airlines flew BNA–MSY frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from BNA to MSY?
- Departures around 7 a.m. have the best record (95% on-time), while departures around 6 p.m. have the worst (62%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from BNA to MSY?
- The scheduled BNA–MSY flight time averages 1h 37m over 471 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 21% of the time.
- How often are BNA to MSY flights cancelled?
- 1.3% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-07 and 2026-07, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from BNA to MSY?
- May 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 59% of arrivals on time. The best was November 2024 at 90%. If your dates are flexible, that 31-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 3,153 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.