Phoenix (PHX) to New Orleans (MSY): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Phoenix (PHX) to New Orleans (MSY) effectively runs on two schedules. In January 2025, 84% of arrivals were on time; in July 2024 that fell to 52% — a 32-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 71% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (82% vs 58%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 71%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 18 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.7%
- Flights/day
- 2.6
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 57m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 1,301 mi
Best airline from PHX to MSY
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlinesmost reliable | 75% | 19 min | 0.7% | 692 |
| Southwest Airlines | 69% | 18 min | 0.6% | 1,102 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from PHX to MSY
Aim for departures around 9 a.m. (84% on-time); avoid 5 p.m. departures (50%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 70% | 22 min |
| Tuesday | 76% | 16 min |
| Wednesday | 68% | 17 min |
| Thursday | 66% | 21 min |
| Friday | 73% | 17 min |
| Saturdaybest | 81% | 17 min |
| Sunday | 67% | 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 aircraft45%
- Airline operations44%
- National airspace system11%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from PHX to MSY delayed?
- 29% of PHX–MSY 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 18 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from PHX to MSY?
- American Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 75%, based on 692 flights. 2 airlines flew PHX–MSY frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from PHX to MSY?
- Departures around 9 a.m. have the best record (84% on-time), while departures around 5 p.m. have the worst (50%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from PHX to MSY?
- The scheduled PHX–MSY flight time averages 2h 57m over 1,301 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 29% of the time.
- How often are PHX to MSY flights cancelled?
- 0.7% 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 PHX to MSY?
- July 2024 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 52% of arrivals on time. The best was January 2025 at 84%. If your dates are flexible, that 32-point gap is worth planning around.
Explore related pages
More routes from PHX
Other ways to fly to New Orleans (MSY)
Related guides
Based on 1,806 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.