Houston (HOU) to New Orleans (MSY): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Houston (HOU) to New Orleans (MSY) effectively runs on two schedules. In September 2025, 92% of arrivals were on time; in March 2026 that fell to 71% — a 20-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 84% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (93% vs 78%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 84%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 10 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.9%
- Flights/day
- 6.2
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 10m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 303 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from HOU to MSY
Aim for departures around 7 a.m. (97% on-time); avoid 4 p.m. departures (67%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 81% | 13 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 89% | 8 min |
| Wednesday | 87% | 8 min |
| Thursday | 82% | 9 min |
| Friday | 82% | 11 min |
| Saturday | 85% | 9 min |
| Sunday | 81% | 11 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft52%
- Airline operations34%
- National airspace system10%
- Weather4%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from HOU to MSY delayed?
- 16% of HOU–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.
- What is the best time of day to fly from HOU to MSY?
- Departures around 7 a.m. have the best record (97% on-time), while departures around 4 p.m. have the worst (67%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from HOU to MSY?
- The scheduled HOU–MSY flight time averages 1h 10m over 303 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 16% of the time.
- How often are HOU to MSY flights cancelled?
- 0.9% 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 HOU to MSY?
- March 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 71% of arrivals on time. The best was September 2025 at 92%. If your dates are flexible, that 20-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 4,536 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.