New Orleans (MSY) to Washington (DCA): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
New Orleans (MSY) to Washington (DCA) has an unusually high scrub rate — 3.1% of scheduled departures never left the gate, a cancellation rate several times the national figure. When flights do go, 72% 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
- 72%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 23 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 3.1%
- Flights/day
- 5.4
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 32m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 969 mi
Best airline from MSY to DCA
5 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republic Airwaysmost reliable | 81% | 15 min | 1.9% | 536 |
| American Airlines | 72% | 23 min | 2.2% | 742 |
| Southwest Airlines | 71% | 20 min | 1.3% | 1,428 |
| Envoy Air | 69% | 19 min | 4.8% | 105 |
| PSA Airlines | 68% | 33 min | 6.5% | 1,039 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from MSY to DCA
Aim for departures around 7 a.m. (95% on-time); avoid 5 p.m. departures (59%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 71% | 27 min |
| Tuesday | 73% | 19 min |
| Wednesday | 71% | 25 min |
| Thursday | 70% | 23 min |
| Friday | 68% | 27 min |
| Saturdaybest | 82% | 18 min |
| Sunday | 69% | 22 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 operations23%
- National airspace system17%
- Weather10%
- Security1%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from MSY to DCA delayed?
- 28% of MSY–DCA 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 23 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 536 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 (95% on-time), while departures around 5 p.m. have the worst (59%). 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 32m over 969 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 28% of the time.
- How often are MSY to DCA flights cancelled?
- 3.1% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05 — 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 3,850 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.