Philadelphia (PHL) to New Orleans (MSY): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Philadelphia (PHL) to New Orleans (MSY) effectively runs on two schedules. In November 2025, 90% of arrivals were on time; in December 2025 that fell to 52% — a 38-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 76% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (81% vs 66%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 76%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 19 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 2.2%
- Flights/day
- 3.0
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 3h 11m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 1,089 mi
Best airline from PHL to MSY
4 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlinesmost reliable | 81% | 15 min | 1.4% | 1,088 |
| PSA Airlines | 73% | 24 min | 3.5% | 631 |
| Frontier Airlines | 71% | 21 min | 2.1% | 379 |
| Republic Airways | 70% | 19 min | 3.5% | 85 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from PHL to MSY
Aim for departures around 9 a.m. (91% on-time); avoid 8 p.m. departures (33%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 74% | 22 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 85% | 12 min |
| Wednesday | 78% | 13 min |
| Thursday | 75% | 18 min |
| Friday | 74% | 22 min |
| Saturday | 83% | 22 min |
| Sunday | 71% | 20 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft52%
- Airline operations26%
- National airspace system18%
- Weather4%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from PHL to MSY delayed?
- 24% of PHL–MSY 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 19 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from PHL to MSY?
- American Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 81%, based on 1,088 flights. 4 airlines flew PHL–MSY frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from PHL to MSY?
- Departures around 9 a.m. have the best record (91% on-time), while departures around 8 p.m. have the worst (33%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from PHL to MSY?
- The scheduled PHL–MSY flight time averages 3h 11m over 1,089 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 24% of the time.
- How often are PHL to MSY flights cancelled?
- 2.2% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05, slightly above the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from PHL to MSY?
- December 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 52% of arrivals on time. The best was November 2025 at 90%. If your dates are flexible, that 38-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 2,198 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.