Detroit (DTW) to New Orleans (MSY): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
When you fly DTW to MSY matters as much as anything else about the booking: the route swung from 93% on-time in May 2026 to just 70% in January 2026. Across the full period the route averages 83% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (84% vs 73%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 83%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 10 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.1%
- Flights/day
- 2.3
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 36m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 926 mi
Best airline from DTW to MSY
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Linesmost reliable | 83% | 9 min | 1.4% | 1,201 |
| Spirit Airlines | 81% | 13 min | 0.4% | 462 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DTW to MSY
Aim for departures around 11 a.m. (91% on-time); avoid 7 p.m. departures (69%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 86% | 10 min |
| Tuesday | 86% | 6 min |
| Wednesday | 85% | 9 min |
| Thursday | 79% | 12 min |
| Friday | 80% | 13 min |
| Saturdaybest | 88% | 7 min |
| Sunday | 78% | 14 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft21%
- Airline operations46%
- National airspace system30%
- Weather2%
- Security1%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DTW to MSY delayed?
- 17% of DTW–MSY flights arrived 15 or more minutes late (the US DOT definition of a delay) between 2024-06 and 2026-05. The average arrival delay across completed flights was 10 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from DTW to MSY?
- Delta Air Lines has the best on-time record on this route at 83%, based on 1,201 flights. 2 airlines flew DTW–MSY frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DTW to MSY?
- Departures around 11 a.m. have the best record (91% on-time), while departures around 7 p.m. have the worst (69%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from DTW to MSY?
- The scheduled DTW–MSY flight time averages 2h 36m over 926 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 17% of the time.
- How often are DTW to MSY flights cancelled?
- 1.1% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from DTW to MSY?
- January 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 70% of arrivals on time. The best was May 2026 at 93%. If your dates are flexible, that 23-point gap is worth planning around.
Explore related pages
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Based on 1,686 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.