Los Angeles (LAX) to New Orleans (MSY): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
When you fly LAX to MSY matters as much as anything else about the booking: the route swung from 93% on-time in September 2024 to just 67% in March 2026. Across the full period the route averages 82% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (86% vs 78%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 82%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 12 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.2%
- Flights/day
- 4.0
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 3h 39m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 1,671 mi
Best airline from LAX to MSY
3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spirit Airlinesmost reliable | 85% | 14 min | 2.0% | 560 |
| Delta Air Lines | 84% | 12 min | 1.2% | 2,013 |
| Southwest Airlines | 77% | 12 min | 0.6% | 788 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from LAX to MSY
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (92% on-time); avoid 7 p.m. departures (67%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 83% | 16 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 88% | 8 min |
| Wednesday | 87% | 8 min |
| Thursday | 83% | 10 min |
| Friday | 80% | 14 min |
| Saturday | 81% | 12 min |
| Sunday | 74% | 17 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 operations51%
- National airspace system13%
- Weather4%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from LAX to MSY delayed?
- 18% of LAX–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 LAX to MSY?
- Spirit Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 85%, based on 560 flights. 3 airlines flew LAX–MSY frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from LAX to MSY?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (92% on-time), while departures around 7 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 LAX to MSY?
- The scheduled LAX–MSY flight time averages 3h 39m over 1,671 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 18% of the time.
- How often are LAX to MSY flights cancelled?
- 1.2% 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 LAX to MSY?
- March 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 67% of arrivals on time. The best was September 2024 at 93%. If your dates are flexible, that 26-point gap is worth planning around.
Explore related pages
More routes from LAX
Other ways to fly to New Orleans (MSY)
Related guides
Based on 3,381 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.