New Orleans (MSY) to Washington (DCA): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
New Orleans (MSY) to Washington (DCA) has an unusually high scrub rate — 3.5% of scheduled departures never left the gate, a cancellation rate several times the national figure. When flights do go, 71% land on time, below the national average of 78%. Republic Airways has been the safer pick, arriving on time 81% of the time.
- On-time
- 71%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 26 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 3.5%
- Flights/day
- 5.3
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 33m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 969 mi
Best airline from MSY to DCA
5 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republic Airwaysmost reliable | 81% | 15 min | 2.0% | 499 |
| Envoy Air | 72% | 14 min | 4.8% | 83 |
| American Airlines | 71% | 25 min | 2.4% | 790 |
| Southwest Airlines | 70% | 21 min | 1.4% | 1,480 |
| PSA Airlines | 67% | 38 min | 7.5% | 1,136 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from MSY to DCA
Aim for departures around 7 a.m. (93% on-time); avoid 5 p.m. departures (57%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 70% | 29 min |
| Tuesday | 73% | 20 min |
| Wednesday | 70% | 28 min |
| Thursday | 69% | 28 min |
| Friday | 67% | 29 min |
| Saturdaybest | 80% | 20 min |
| Sunday | 68% | 24 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft50%
- Airline operations24%
- National airspace system16%
- Weather10%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from MSY to DCA delayed?
- 29% of MSY–DCA 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 26 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from MSY to DCA?
- Republic Airways has the best on-time record on this route at 81%, based on 499 flights. 5 airlines flew MSY–DCA frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from MSY to DCA?
- Departures around 7 a.m. have the best record (93% on-time), while departures around 5 p.m. have the worst (57%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from MSY to DCA?
- The scheduled MSY–DCA flight time averages 2h 33m over 969 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 29% of the time.
- How often are MSY to DCA flights cancelled?
- 3.5% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-07 and 2026-07 — several times the typical US rate, so consider earlier departures or backup options.
- What is the worst month to fly from MSY to DCA?
- February 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 50% of arrivals on time. The best was September 2024 at 88%. If your dates are flexible, that 39-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 3,988 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.