73% of flights from New Orleans to New York arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is worse than the typical U.S. route. The 10 a.m. departures ran on time 81% of the time; the 7 p.m. ones 75%. Most reliable airline: Delta Air Lines (75%). 14% of flights arrived more than an hour late or not at all.
How late?
The on-time rate treats a flight 20 minutes late the same as one 5 hours late. Here's the split for MSY → JFK: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 53% of the time. About 1 in 12 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 63 three hours or more; 5.6% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early73%
- 15–30 min late7.5%
- 30–60 min late5.8%
- 1–2 hours late4.9%
- 2–3 hours late1.7%
- 3+ hours late1.6%
- Diverted0.4%
- Cancelled5.6%
Share of all 1,142 scheduled flights, past 12 months, by arrival time against schedule.
By airline
| Airline | Flights | On time | Cancelled | Typical arrival | 1h+ late | Avg when late | Operated by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Lines | 720 | 75% | 5.8% | −10 min | 5.7% | +70 min | Delta Air Lines |
| JetBlue | 415 | 68% | 5.3% | −5 min | 12.0% | +86 min | JetBlue |
| Frontier Airlines | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | Frontier Airlines |
Airline = the name on the ticket. Regional flights (e.g. "Delta Connection") count under the ticketing airline, and the operator is listed.
Best time of day to fly
On-time rate by scheduled departure hour (local time at MSY). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
By airline and hour
| Departs | Delta Air Lines | JetBlue |
|---|---|---|
| 10 a.m. | 76% | — |
| 11 a.m. | 78% | 71% |
| 7 p.m. | 75% | — |
Last flight of the day
On MSY → JFK, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 5.9% of the time, against 5.2% for its earlier flights, about the same. It arrived 3+ hours late 1.4% of the time (earlier flights: 1.9%). It matters more than the numbers suggest. Miss an earlier flight and there's another one that evening; miss the last one and you're usually waiting until morning.
| Airline | Last departure | Last: cancelled | Last: 3h+ late | Earlier: cancelled | Next morning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Lines | 7:48 p.m. | 5.6% | 1.1% | 5.3% | first flight 10:20 a.m. |
Last flight = the airline's last scheduled departure on this route that day, on days it flies the route at least twice; past 12 months. Times are typical scheduled times over the latest three months.
By month
Each calendar month pooled over 2023–2026. Best: October (82%). Worst: July (60%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 170 | 68% | 7.1% |
| Tuesday | 150 | 71% | 5.3% |
| Wednesday | 151 | 77% | 2.0% |
| Thursday | 167 | 77% | 4.2% |
| Friday | 169 | 77% | 3.0% |
| Saturday | 166 | 78% | 6.0% |
| Sunday | 169 | 60% | 11.2% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: airline 28 · weather 24 · air traffic/airport 12
Month by month
Flight numbers on this route
Regular flights with at least 120 scheduled trips in the past year. Sorted by departure time.
| Flight | Departs | Flights | On time | Cancelled | Typical arrival | Operated by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B6 176 | 12:19 p.m. | 172 | 70% | 6.4% | −9 min | JetBlue |
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 14, 2025 | 4 | 0% | 1 |
| Feb 23, 2026 | 4 | 0% | 4 |
| Jul 28, 2026 | 3 | 0% | 2 |
| Mar 13, 2026 | 3 | 0% | 0 |
| Feb 25, 2026 | 3 | 0% | 0 |
Nearby airport alternatives
Other ways to make the same trip, using airports within 60 miles of New Orleans or New York. MSY → EWR has been 11 points more reliable.
| Route | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSY → JFK (this route) | 1,142 | 73% | 5.6% |
| MSY → EWR New Orleans to Newark | 1,218 | 84% | 2.4% |
| MSY → LGA New Orleans to LaGuardia | 1,391 | 67% | 3.8% |
Questions
How often are flights from MSY to JFK on time?
73% of 1,142 scheduled flights from New Orleans, LA to New York, NY arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 5.6% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly MSY to JFK?
Flights scheduled to leave at 10 a.m. were the most reliable (81% on time). The 7 p.m. departures were the least (75%).
Which airline is most on time from MSY to JFK?
Delta Air Lines: 75% of its 720 flights on the route arrived on time. JetBlue: 68%.
What month has the most delays from MSY to JFK?
July (60% on time). The best month is October (82%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from MSY to JFK more likely to be cancelled?
Not much. Each airline's last MSY–JFK flight of the day was cancelled 5.9% of the time over the past year, against 5.2% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- JFK → MSY (return)
- New Orleans (MSY) delays by hour
- Flights into New York JFK (JFK)
- Delta Air Lines on-time record
- JetBlue on-time record
- Frontier Airlines on-time record
- Connecting off this flight? Check the risk
Domestic flights by the airlines that report to the U.S. DOT, plus their regional partners. "On time" means arriving less than 15 minutes after schedule; cancelled and diverted flights count as not on time. Past performance is a guide, not a forecast. Method.