New Orleans (MSY) to Dallas (DAL): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
New Orleans (MSY) to Dallas (DAL) effectively runs on two schedules. In September 2025, 89% of arrivals were on time; in May 2026 that fell to 68% — a 21-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 78% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (90% vs 64%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 78%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 14 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.7%
- Flights/day
- 6.3
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 31m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 437 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from MSY to DAL
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (93% on-time); avoid 9 p.m. departures (52%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 76% | 18 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 87% | 11 min |
| Wednesday | 83% | 9 min |
| Thursday | 77% | 14 min |
| Friday | 75% | 15 min |
| Saturday | 81% | 13 min |
| Sunday | 70% | 18 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft56%
- Airline operations19%
- National airspace system21%
- Weather3%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from MSY to DAL delayed?
- 22% of MSY–DAL 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 14 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from MSY to DAL?
- Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (93% on-time), while departures around 9 p.m. have the worst (52%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from MSY to DAL?
- The scheduled MSY–DAL flight time averages 1h 31m over 437 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 22% of the time.
- How often are MSY to DAL flights cancelled?
- 1.7% 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 MSY to DAL?
- May 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 68% of arrivals on time. The best was September 2025 at 89%. If your dates are flexible, that 21-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 4,575 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.