New York (JFK) to New Orleans (MSY): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
The calendar drives reliability on JFK–MSY. April 2026 flights landed on schedule 92% of the time, but August 2024 dropped to 67% — a gap of 25 points. Across the full period the route averages 81% on-time against a national 78%.
- On-time
- 81%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 15 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 2.9%
- Flights/day
- 3.1
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 3h 30m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 1,182 mi
Best airline from JFK 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% | 14 min | 3.4% | 1,452 |
| JetBlue Airways | 78% | 17 min | 2.1% | 898 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from JFK to MSY
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (88% on-time); avoid 3 p.m. departures (63%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 79% | 14 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 87% | 10 min |
| Wednesday | 86% | 9 min |
| Thursday | 79% | 18 min |
| Friday | 81% | 15 min |
| Saturday | 79% | 14 min |
| Sunday | 74% | 25 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft24%
- Airline operations45%
- National airspace system28%
- Weather3%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from JFK to MSY delayed?
- 20% of JFK–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 15 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from JFK to MSY?
- Delta Air Lines has the best on-time record on this route at 83%, based on 1,452 flights. 2 airlines flew JFK–MSY frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from JFK to MSY?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (88% on-time), while departures around 3 p.m. have the worst (63%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from JFK to MSY?
- The scheduled JFK–MSY flight time averages 3h 30m over 1,182 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 20% of the time.
- How often are JFK to MSY flights cancelled?
- 2.9% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05, slightly above the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from JFK to MSY?
- August 2024 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 67% of arrivals on time. The best was April 2026 at 92%. If your dates are flexible, that 25-point gap is worth planning around.
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Related guides
Based on 2,360 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.