Best Time to Fly IAD to MSY: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Washington Dulles International → Louis Armstrong New Orleans International
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
Over the last 12 months, 86.1% of Washington (IAD) to New Orleans (MSY) flights arrived on time (631 scheduled flights). That is 8.5 points above the national average of 77.6%.
United Airlines was the only reporting airline with regular flights on this route.
Over 24 months, Monday was the most reliable day (87% on time) and July the worst month (72%).
The cancellation rate was 0.6% (US average 1.8%).
IAD to MSY on-time performance by airline
Last 12 months. Airlines with fewer than 30 completed flights are marked “limited data”.
| Airline | On time | Avg delay when late | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlines | 86.0% | 78 min | 0.7% | 613 |
| Frontier Airlines | Limited data | 3 | ||
| Republic Airways | Limited data | 15 | ||
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly IAD to MSY
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 1,304 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6am–7am | Limited data | 1 | |
| 8am–9am | 90.9% | 1.1% | 457 |
| 9am–10am | 93.4% | 3.2% | 94 |
| 12pm–1pm | Limited data | 4 | |
| 1pm–2pm | Limited data | 21 | |
| 5pm–6pm | 79.5% | 0.8% | 611 |
| 6pm–7pm | 70.0% | 6.2% | 32 |
| 7pm–8pm | Limited data | 12 | |
| 8pm–9pm | 70.4% | 1.4% | 72 |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on IAD to MSY
On-time arrivals during holiday periods compared with all other days, last 24 months.
| Period | On time | vs other days | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving week (Tue before to Mon after) | Limited data | 28 | ||
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 80.7% | -5.5 pts | 0.0% | 31 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 73.7% | -12.5 pts | 1.0% | 207 |
| All other days | 86.1% | — | 1.4% | 1,038 |
Monthly on-time trend
On-time arrival % each month, with the 12-month US average for reference.
What causes delays on this route
Share of reported delay minutes, last 12 months (BTS cause categories).