Route on-time record
MSY to HOU: most on-time flights and the best time to fly
New Orleans (Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport) to Houston (William P. Hobby Airport). 2,265 nonstop flights in Jun 2025 to May 2026, 76% arrived within 15 minutes and 0.6% were cancelled. The most reliable flight number was Southwest 2161 at 5:50 AM.
Flying on a specific date? We’ll adjust for the month, the weekday and the forecast.
MSY → HOU
New Orleans to Houston: 2,265 nonstop flights a year
On time (12 months)
76%
Cancelled
0.6%
avg delay 13 min
Best time to leave
Before 9 AM
92% on time vs 62% 6 to 9 PM
Most reliable airline
Southwest
76% chance on time
Lowest nonstop fare seen in the next two months: $197 (Southwest 3114 on 2026-10-28). 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 · Southwest 2161
5:50 AM → 7:10 AM1h 20m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-29.
90%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 91%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 3 min
- Arrived on time 91% of the time (23 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 92% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 62%).
- Short track record (23 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 23 flights
Find Southwest 2161 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#2 · Southwest 1276
6:00 AM → 7:20 AM1h 20m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-06.
88%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 90%
- Cancelled
- 6.1%
- Avg arrival delay
- 5 min
- Arrived on time 90% of the time (31 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Cancelled 6.1% of the time (2 of 33).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 92% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 62%).
- Short track record (31 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 31 flights
Find Southwest 1276 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#3 · Southwest 3080
10:05 AM → 11:25 AM1h 20m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as Southwest 2288; its record covers all of them.
88%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 87%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 5 min
- Arrived on time 87% of the time (52 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 52 scheduled flights.
- Short track record (52 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 52 flights
Find Southwest 3080 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#4 · Southwest 4573
8:50 AM → 10:10 AM1h 20m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-27.
88%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 94%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 3 min
- Arrived on time 94% of the time (16 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 92% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 62%).
- Short track record (16 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 16 flights
Find Southwest 4573 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#5 · Southwest 3763
8:05 AM → 9:25 AM1h 20m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-06.
84%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 75%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 14 min
- Arrived on time 75% of the time (28 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 92% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 62%).
- 62% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.
- Short track record (28 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 28 flights
Find Southwest 3763 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#6 · Southwest 3494
8:15 AM → 9:35 AM1h 20m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as Southwest 4211; its record covers all of them.
84%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 79%
- Cancelled
- 1.6%
- Avg arrival delay
- 8 min
- Arrived on time 79% of the time (62 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 92% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 62%).
Moderate track record · 62 flights
Find Southwest 3494 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#7 · Southwest 3499
8:00 PM → 9:20 PM1h 20m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
70%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 66%
- Cancelled
- 3.3%
- Avg arrival delay
- 11 min
- Arrived on time 66% of the time (29 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Cancelled 3.3% of the time (1 of 30).
- Leaves in this route's least on-time window (6 to 9 PM: 62% on time; Before 9 AM: 92%).
- 55% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.
Limited track record · 29 flights
Find Southwest 3499 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#8 · Southwest 2972
2:15 PM → 3:35 PM1h 20m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as Southwest 1396; its record covers all of them.
70%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 62%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 19 min
- Arrived on time 62% of the time (55 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 55 scheduled flights.
- Lands inside HOU's trouble window: 80% of its 40 ground stops and delay programs started between noon and 6 PM.
- Short track record (55 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 55 flights
Find Southwest 2972 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#9 · Southwest 3383
3:00 PM → 4:25 PM1h 25m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-06.
70%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 57%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 25 min
- Arrived on time 57% of the time (23 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Lands inside HOU's trouble window: 80% of its 40 ground stops and delay programs started between noon and 6 PM.
- Short track record (23 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 23 flights
Find Southwest 3383 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#10 · Southwest 3199
6:30 PM → 7:50 PM1h 20m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-27.
69%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 69%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 15 min
- Arrived on time 69% of the time (16 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's least on-time window (6 to 9 PM: 62% on time; Before 9 AM: 92%).
- 72% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.
- Short track record (16 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 16 flights
Find Southwest 3199 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
Airlines on this route
Season-adjusted chance of operating and arriving on time.
- Southwest Airlines76%
2,265 flights · 76% on time as flown · 0.6% cancel
On time by departure time
All airlines, scheduled local departure, Jun 2025 to May 2026.
- Before 9 AM92%
682 flights · avg delay 5 min
- 9 AM to noon88%
343 flights · avg delay 6 min
- Noon to 3 PM67%
403 flights · avg delay 17 min
- 3 to 6 PM63%
401 flights · avg delay 21 min
- 6 to 9 PM62%
387 flights · avg delay 20 min
Best day: Tuesday (85%). Worst: Sunday (73%).
Smarter routing
Nearby airports that run more on time
MSY → IAH 81% chance on time
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport to George Bush Intercontinental Airport · 2,997 flights a year · 24 mi from your airports · yours: 76%
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 aircraft55%
- Air traffic control and airport volume23%
- Airline (crew, maintenance, boarding)18%
- 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
MSY to HOU questions
- What time of day is best to fly MSY to HOU?
- Before 9 AM: 92% of flights arrived on time, against 62% for departures 6 to 9 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 HOU?
- Southwest, with a season-adjusted 76% chance of operating and arriving on time over 2,265 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 HOU?
- July (68% on time); the best was November (87%), 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
- HOU 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 DEN 80%
- MSY to AUS 78%
- MSY to DCA 71%
- MSY to CLT 83%
- MSY to MIA 79%
- MSY to LAX 80%
Live status: FAA delays and ground stops