New Orleans (MSY) to Los Angeles (LAX): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
When you fly MSY to LAX matters as much as anything else about the booking: the route swung from 94% on-time in October 2024 to just 65% in July 2024. Across the full period the route averages 81% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (92% vs 76%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 81%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 15 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.2%
- Flights/day
- 4.2
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 4h 17m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 1,671 mi
Best airline from MSY to LAX
3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Linesmost reliable | 84% | 15 min | 1.3% | 1,939 |
| Spirit Airlines | 82% | 14 min | 1.9% | 593 |
| Southwest Airlines | 71% | 15 min | 0.4% | 741 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from MSY to LAX
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (93% on-time); avoid 9 a.m. departures (69%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 78% | 19 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 85% | 12 min |
| Wednesday | 84% | 16 min |
| Thursday | 80% | 15 min |
| Friday | 81% | 14 min |
| Saturday | 81% | 16 min |
| Sunday | 76% | 16 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft40%
- Airline operations48%
- National airspace system10%
- Weather2%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from MSY to LAX delayed?
- 19% of MSY–LAX 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 15 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from MSY to LAX?
- Delta Air Lines has the best on-time record on this route at 84%, based on 1,939 flights. 3 airlines flew MSY–LAX frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from MSY to LAX?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (93% on-time), while departures around 9 a.m. have the worst (69%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from MSY to LAX?
- The scheduled MSY–LAX flight time averages 4h 17m over 1,671 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 19% of the time.
- How often are MSY to LAX flights cancelled?
- 1.2% 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 LAX?
- July 2024 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 65% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 94%. If your dates are flexible, that 29-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 3,294 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.