New Orleans (MSY) to Seattle (SEA): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
New Orleans (MSY) to Seattle (SEA) effectively runs on two schedules. In October 2024, 87% of arrivals were on time; in July 2024 that fell to 53% — a 34-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 73% on-time against a national 78%.
- On-time
- 73%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 15 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.1%
- Flights/day
- 1.7
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 5h 16m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 2,086 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from MSY to SEA
Aim for departures around 3 p.m. (80% on-time); avoid 5 p.m. departures (66%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 65% | 25 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 80% | 9 min |
| Wednesday | 75% | 16 min |
| Thursday | 74% | 15 min |
| Friday | 71% | 13 min |
| Saturday | 77% | 12 min |
| Sunday | 73% | 15 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft42%
- Airline operations30%
- National airspace system23%
- Weather2%
- Security2%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from MSY to SEA delayed?
- 27% of MSY–SEA 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.
- What is the best time of day to fly from MSY to SEA?
- Departures around 3 p.m. have the best record (80% on-time), while departures around 5 p.m. have the worst (66%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from MSY to SEA?
- The scheduled MSY–SEA flight time averages 5h 16m over 2,086 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 27% of the time.
- How often are MSY to SEA flights cancelled?
- 1.1% 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 SEA?
- July 2024 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 53% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 87%. If your dates are flexible, that 34-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 1,291 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.