New Orleans (MSY) to Detroit (DTW): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
When you fly MSY to DTW matters as much as anything else about the booking: the route swung from 92% on-time in October 2024 to just 70% in June 2025. Across the full period the route averages 82% on-time against a national 78%.
- On-time
- 82%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 14 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.4%
- Flights/day
- 2.2
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 31m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 926 mi
Best airline from MSY to DTW
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Linesmost reliable | 83% | 13 min | 1.6% | 1,273 |
| Spirit Airlines | 81% | 18 min | 0.7% | 445 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from MSY to DTW
Aim for departures around 10 a.m. (90% on-time); avoid 8 p.m. departures (67%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 81% | 19 min |
| Tuesday | 87% | 9 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 90% | 5 min |
| Thursday | 81% | 17 min |
| Friday | 76% | 16 min |
| Saturday | 85% | 14 min |
| Sunday | 79% | 17 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft51%
- Airline operations35%
- National airspace system11%
- Weather3%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from MSY to DTW delayed?
- 18% of MSY–DTW 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 DTW?
- Delta Air Lines has the best on-time record on this route at 83%, based on 1,273 flights. 2 airlines flew MSY–DTW frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from MSY to DTW?
- Departures around 10 a.m. have the best record (90% on-time), while departures around 8 p.m. have the worst (67%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from MSY to DTW?
- The scheduled MSY–DTW flight time averages 2h 31m over 926 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 18% of the time.
- How often are MSY to DTW flights cancelled?
- 1.4% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-07 and 2026-07, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from MSY to DTW?
- June 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 70% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 92%. If your dates are flexible, that 21-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 1,741 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.