Route on-time record
MSY to DCA: most on-time flights and the best time to fly
New Orleans (Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport) to Washington (Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport). 1,956 nonstop flights in Jun 2025 to May 2026, 71% arrived within 15 minutes and 2.9% were cancelled. The most reliable flight number was Republic 4745 at 2:52 PM.
Flying on a specific date? We’ll adjust for the month, the weekday and the forecast.
MSY → DCA
New Orleans to Washington: 1,956 nonstop flights a year
On time (12 months)
71%
Cancelled
2.9%
avg delay 26 min
Best time to leave
Before 9 AM
86% on time vs 55% 3 to 6 PM
Most reliable airline
Republic
78% chance on time
Lowest nonstop fare seen in the next two months: $395 (Southwest 4604 on 2026-10-19). 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 · Republic 4745 · sold as American Eagle, Delta Connection or United Express
2:52 PM → 6:37 PM2h 45m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-20.
82%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 84%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 6 min
- Arrived on time 84% of the time (38 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 38 scheduled flights.
- Lands inside DCA's trouble window: 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
- Short track record (38 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 38 flights
Find 2:52 PM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales#2 · Southwest 2041
9:50 AM → 1:20 PM2h 30m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as Southwest 3246; its record covers all of them.
82%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 85%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 7 min
- Arrived on time 85% of the time (78 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 78 scheduled flights.
- Lands inside DCA's trouble window: 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
Moderate track record · 78 flights
Find Southwest 2041 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#3 · American 2137
6:00 AM → 9:29 AM2h 29m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-06.
79%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 84%
- Cancelled
- 5.2%
- Avg arrival delay
- 14 min
- Arrived on time 84% of the time (73 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Cancelled 5.2% of the time (4 of 77).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 86% on time; 3 to 6 PM: 55%).
Moderate track record · 73 flights
Find American 2137 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#4 · PSA 5333 · sold as American Eagle
5:38 AM → 9:25 AM2h 47m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-20.
78%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 88%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 14 min
- Arrived on time 88% of the time (43 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 43 scheduled flights.
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 86% on time; 3 to 6 PM: 55%).
- Short track record (43 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 43 flights
Find 5:38 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales#5 · PSA 5096 · sold as American Eagle
10:25 AM → 1:59 PM2h 34m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-03.
75%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 80%
- Cancelled
- 4.8%
- Avg arrival delay
- 69 min
- Arrived on time 80% of the time (20 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Lands inside DCA's trouble window: 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
- Short track record (20 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 20 flights
Find 10:25 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales#6 · PSA 5313 · sold as American Eagle
10:59 AM → 2:43 PM2h 44m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as PSA 5368; its record covers all of them.
73%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 75%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 23 min
- Arrived on time 75% of the time (55 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 55 scheduled flights.
- Lands inside DCA's trouble window: 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
- 68% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.
Limited track record · 55 flights
Find 10:59 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales#7 · Southwest 471
9:40 AM → 1:00 PM2h 23m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-05.
71%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 50%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 37 min
- Arrived on time 50% of the time (10 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Lands inside DCA's trouble window: 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
- 71% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.
- Short track record (10 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 10 flights
Find Southwest 471 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#8 · American 967
2:10 PM → 5:46 PM2h 36m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
71%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 56%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 21 min
- Arrived on time 56% of the time (9 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Lands inside DCA's trouble window: 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
- 78% 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 967 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#9 · Republic 4421 · sold as American Eagle, Delta Connection or United Express
5:22 PM → 9:07 PM2h 45m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-19.
68%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 74%
- Cancelled
- 2.8%
- Avg arrival delay
- 12 min
- Arrived on time 74% of the time (35 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's least on-time window (3 to 6 PM: 55% on time; Before 9 AM: 86%).
- Short track record (35 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 35 flights
Find 5:22 PM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales#10 · PSA 5323 · sold as American Eagle
3:08 PM → 6:44 PM2h 36m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-06.
62%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 72%
- Cancelled
- 11.1%
- Avg arrival delay
- 52 min
- Arrived on time 72% of the time (46 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Cancelled 11.1% of the time (6 of 54).
- Leaves in this route's least on-time window (3 to 6 PM: 55% on time; Before 9 AM: 86%).
- Lands inside DCA's trouble window: 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
Limited track record · 46 flights
Find 3:08 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)78%
252 flights · 82% on time as flown · 2.1% cancel
- American Airlines70%
466 flights · 73% on time as flown · 2.8% cancel
- Southwest Airlines67%
707 flights · 68% on time as flown · 1.6% cancel
- PSA Airlines (sold as American Eagle)64%
531 flights · 67% on time as flown · 5.2% cancel
On time by departure time
All airlines, scheduled local departure, Jun 2025 to May 2026.
- Before 9 AM86%
275 flights · avg delay 12 min
- 9 AM to noon82%
609 flights · avg delay 15 min
- Noon to 3 PM75%
228 flights · avg delay 19 min
- 3 to 6 PM55%
812 flights · avg delay 42 min
Best day: Saturday (82%). Worst: Sunday (71%).
Smarter routing
Nearby airports that run more on time
MSY → IAD 90% chance on time
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport to Washington Dulles International Airport · 649 flights a year · 23 mi from your airports · yours: 69%
MSY → BWI 79% chance on time
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport · 1,201 flights a year · 30 mi from your airports · yours: 69%
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.
What delays this route
- Late-arriving aircraft46%
- Airline (crew, maintenance, boarding)24%
- Air traffic control and airport volume17%
- Severe weather12%
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
MSY to DCA questions
- What time of day is best to fly MSY to DCA?
- Before 9 AM: 86% of flights arrived on time, against 55% 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 MSY to DCA?
- Republic, with a season-adjusted 78% 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 MSY to DCA?
- July (62% on time); the best was November (82%), 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 MSY
- DCA to MSY (return)
- MSY to ATL 82%
- MSY to IAH 82%
- MSY to DFW 72%
- MSY to ORD 79%
- MSY to MCO 77%
- MSY to DAL 78%
- MSY to HOU 76%
- MSY to DEN 80%
- MSY to AUS 78%
- MSY to CLT 83%
- MSY to MIA 79%
- MSY to LAX 80%
Live status: FAA delays and ground stops