New Orleans (MSY) to Atlanta (ATL): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
When you fly MSY to ATL matters as much as anything else about the booking: the route swung from 94% on-time in September 2025 to just 67% in July 2024. Across the full period the route averages 81% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (89% vs 71%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 81%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 14 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.8%
- Flights/day
- 11
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 31m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 425 mi
Best airline from MSY to ATL
4 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Linesmost reliable | 84% | 12 min | 1.9% | 6,796 |
| Southwest Airlines | 74% | 15 min | 1.0% | 1,084 |
| Spirit Airlines | 73% | 19 min | 2.0% | 700 |
| Frontier Airlines | 54% | 38 min | 2.6% | 307 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from MSY to ATL
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (93% on-time); avoid 4 p.m. departures (68%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 77% | 17 min |
| Tuesday | 86% | 9 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 89% | 8 min |
| Thursday | 84% | 11 min |
| Friday | 80% | 14 min |
| Saturday | 83% | 14 min |
| Sunday | 72% | 20 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft42%
- Airline operations30%
- National airspace system25%
- Weather4%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from MSY to ATL delayed?
- 19% of MSY–ATL 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 14 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from MSY to ATL?
- Delta Air Lines has the best on-time record on this route at 84%, based on 6,796 flights. 4 airlines flew MSY–ATL frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from MSY to ATL?
- Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (93% on-time), while departures around 4 p.m. have the worst (68%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from MSY to ATL?
- The scheduled MSY–ATL flight time averages 1h 31m over 425 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 19% of the time.
- How often are MSY to ATL flights cancelled?
- 1.8% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-07 and 2026-07, slightly above the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from MSY to ATL?
- July 2024 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 67% of arrivals on time. The best was September 2025 at 94%. If your dates are flexible, that 27-point gap is worth planning around.
Explore related pages
- Return route: ATL to MSY on-time stats
- Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport departure performance
- Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport airport reliability
- Delta Air Lines on-time record
- Southwest Airlines on-time record
- Spirit Airlines on-time record
- Frontier Airlines on-time record
More routes from MSY
Other ways to fly to Atlanta (ATL)
Related guides
Based on 8,889 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.