New Orleans (MSY) to Denver (DEN): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
When you fly MSY to DEN matters as much as anything else about the booking: the route swung from 90% on-time in November 2024 to just 64% in July 2024. Across the full period the route averages 80% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (89% vs 67%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 80%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 13 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.0%
- Flights/day
- 6.2
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 59m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 1,062 mi
Best airline from MSY to DEN
3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlinesmost reliable | 85% | 11 min | 1.1% | 1,992 |
| Southwest Airlines | 77% | 13 min | 0.7% | 2,153 |
| Frontier Airlines | 70% | 24 min | 1.8% | 380 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from MSY to DEN
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (95% on-time); avoid 10 p.m. departures (56%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 82% | 13 min |
| Tuesday | 82% | 14 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 83% | 9 min |
| Thursday | 77% | 14 min |
| Friday | 80% | 12 min |
| Saturday | 78% | 16 min |
| Sunday | 79% | 14 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft39%
- Airline operations27%
- National airspace system29%
- Weather5%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from MSY to DEN delayed?
- 20% of MSY–DEN 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 13 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from MSY to DEN?
- United Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 85%, based on 1,992 flights. 3 airlines flew MSY–DEN frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from MSY to DEN?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (95% on-time), while departures around 10 p.m. have the worst (56%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from MSY to DEN?
- The scheduled MSY–DEN flight time averages 2h 59m over 1,062 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 20% of the time.
- How often are MSY to DEN flights cancelled?
- 1% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from MSY to DEN?
- July 2024 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 64% of arrivals on time. The best was November 2024 at 90%. If your dates are flexible, that 26-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 4,525 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.