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Route on-time record

DCA to MSY: most on-time flights and the best time to fly

Washington (Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport) to New Orleans (Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport). 1,955 nonstop flights in Jun 2025 to May 2026, 73% arrived within 15 minutes and 2.5% were cancelled. The most reliable flight number was PSA 5096 at 7:45 AM.

Flying on a specific date? We’ll adjust for the month, the weekday and the forecast.

DCA → MSY

Washington to New Orleans: 1,955 nonstop flights a year

On time (12 months)

73%

Cancelled

2.5%

avg delay 19 min

Best time to leave

Before 9 AM

86% on time vs 64% 3 to 6 PM

Most reliable airline

Republic

80% chance on time

Check DCA to MSY fares

Lowest nonstop fare seen in the next two months: $116 (American 1867 on 2026-11-07). Fares open on our travel partner (Aviasales). Pick the flight number you chose here.

Most reliable nonstop flights

Ranked by the chance the flight operates and arrives within 15 minutes of schedule, from Jun 2025 to May 2026 records.

  1. #1 · PSA 5096 · sold as American Eagle

    7:45 AM → 9:49 AM3h 04m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-03.

    81%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    89%
    Cancelled
    5.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    6 min
    • Arrived on time 89% of the time (19 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 86% on time; 3 to 6 PM: 64%).
    • Departs outside DCA's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started).
    • Short track record (19 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.

    Limited track record · 19 flights

    Find 7:45 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  2. #2 · Republic 4745 · sold as American Eagle, Delta Connection or United Express

    12:24 PM → 2:21 PM2h 57m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-20.

    81%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    82%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    7 min
    • Arrived on time 82% of the time (38 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Never cancelled in 38 scheduled flights.
    • Departs outside DCA's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started).
    • Short track record (38 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.

    Limited track record · 38 flights

    Find 12:24 PM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  3. #3 · Republic 4421 · sold as American Eagle, Delta Connection or United Express

    2:55 PM → 4:52 PM2h 57m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-20.

    76%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    75%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    10 min
    • Arrived on time 75% of the time (36 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Never cancelled in 36 scheduled flights.
    • Departs inside DCA's trouble window: 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
    • Short track record (36 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.

    Limited track record · 36 flights

    Find 2:55 PM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  4. #4 · Southwest 3438

    11:35 AM → 1:15 PM2h 40m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as Southwest 2972, 2544, 1184; its record covers all of them.

    75%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    76%
    Cancelled
    1.1%
    Avg arrival delay
    9 min
    • Arrived on time 76% of the time (85 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Departs outside DCA's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started).

    Moderate track record · 85 flights

    Find Southwest 3438 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  5. #5 · PSA 5313 · sold as American Eagle

    8:29 AM → 10:29 AM3h 00m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as PSA 5368; its record covers all of them.

    74%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    76%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    18 min
    • Arrived on time 76% of the time (55 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Never cancelled in 55 scheduled flights.
    • Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 86% on time; 3 to 6 PM: 64%).
    • Departs outside DCA's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started).

    Limited track record · 55 flights

    Find 8:29 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  6. #6 · PSA 5462 · sold as American Eagle

    8:10 PM → 10:11 PM3h 01m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-18.

    73%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    86%
    Cancelled
    4.5%
    Avg arrival delay
    8 min
    • Arrived on time 86% of the time (42 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Cancelled 4.5% of the time (2 of 44).
    • Departs outside DCA's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started).
    • Short track record (42 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.

    Limited track record · 42 flights

    Find 8:10 PM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  7. #7 · PSA 5323 · sold as American Eagle

    12:37 PM → 2:38 PM3h 01m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-06.

    72%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    80%
    Cancelled
    7.4%
    Avg arrival delay
    21 min
    • Arrived on time 80% of the time (49 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Cancelled 7.4% of the time (4 of 54).
    • Departs outside DCA's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started).
    • Short track record (49 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.

    Limited track record · 49 flights

    Find 12:37 PM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  8. #8 · American 3175

    11:50 AM → 1:30 PM2h 40m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.

    72%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    67%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    19 min
    • Arrived on time 67% of the time (9 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Departs outside DCA's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started).
    • 54% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.
    • Short track record (9 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.

    Limited track record · 9 flights

    Find American 3175 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  9. #9 · American 2967

    2:56 PM → 4:55 PM2h 59m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-06.

    67%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    72%
    Cancelled
    3.8%
    Avg arrival delay
    26 min
    • Arrived on time 72% of the time (25 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Departs inside DCA's trouble window: 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
    • 52% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.
    • Short track record (25 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.

    Limited track record · 25 flights

    Find American 2967 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  10. #10 · PSA 5670 · sold as American Eagle

    2:54 PM → 4:54 PM3h 00m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.

    63%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    50%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    41 min
    • Arrived on time 50% of the time (10 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Departs inside DCA's trouble window: 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
    • Short track record (10 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.

    Limited track record · 10 flights

    Find 2:54 PM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales

Airlines on this route

Season-adjusted chance of operating and arriving on time.

  • Republic Airways (sold as American Eagle, Delta Connection or United Express)80%

    252 flights · 83% on time as flown · 1.2% cancel

  • Southwest Airlines71%

    707 flights · 72% on time as flown · 1.6% cancel

  • American Airlines70%

    465 flights · 72% on time as flown · 2.7% cancel

  • PSA Airlines (sold as American Eagle)69%

    531 flights · 72% on time as flown · 4.1% cancel

On time by departure time

All airlines, scheduled local departure, Jun 2025 to May 2026.

  • Before 9 AM86%

    396 flights · avg delay 8 min

  • 9 AM to noon78%

    420 flights · avg delay 13 min

  • Noon to 3 PM72%

    442 flights · avg delay 17 min

  • 3 to 6 PM64%

    214 flights · avg delay 27 min

  • 6 to 9 PM65%

    483 flights · avg delay 30 min

Best day: Saturday (82%). Worst: Thursday (73%).

Smarter routing

Nearby airports that run more on time

  • IAD → MSY 85% chance on time

    Washington Dulles International Airport to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport · 649 flights a year · 23 mi from your airports · yours: 72%

    Rank flightsFares

  • BWI → MSY 77% chance on time

    Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport · 1,203 flights a year · 30 mi from your airports · yours: 72%

    Rank flightsFares

On time by month

All airlines, Jun 2023 to May 2026. Several years per month, so one stormy season doesn't define a month. Travel-month estimates use this seasonal pattern.

J
76
F
73
M
80
A
77
M
74
J
70
J
64
A
78
S
82
O
85
N
79
D
77

What delays this route

  • Late-arriving aircraft55%
  • Airline (crew, maintenance, boarding)25%
  • Air traffic control and airport volume16%
  • Severe weather3%

Share of delay minutes by the cause airlines report to the US DOT.

Historical odds, not a guarantee. Built from the US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics on-time reports (Jun 2025 to May 2026), FAA ground stop and delay program advisories, and 20 years of airport weather observations. Covers US airlines that report to the DOT; schedules are flights operated recently, so confirm times when you book. ATIS Alerts is not affiliated with any airline. Fares are what Aviasales travelers saw in recent searches (USD, one way, 1 adult), not live quotes; the partner site shows the current price. Fare links go to our travel partner and may earn us a commission at no cost to you. Affiliate disclosure

DCA to MSY questions

What time of day is best to fly DCA to MSY?
Before 9 AM: 86% of flights arrived on time, against 64% for departures 3 to 6 PM. Later flights inherit delays from earlier ones, so the first departures of the day usually run best.
Which airline is most on time from DCA to MSY?
Republic, with a season-adjusted 80% chance of operating and arriving on time over 252 flights. The adjustment compares each airline with what the route did in the months it flew, so a carrier that skipped a stormy month gets no free credit.
What is the worst month for delays on DCA to MSY?
July (64% on time); the best was October (85%), averaged over Jun 2023 to May 2026.
Is this a prediction for my flight?
No. These are historical odds from the US DOT on-time reports, FAA advisories and airport weather records. Check your flight status and the FAA delay board on the day you fly.

More routes from DCA

Live status: FAA delays and ground stops