George Bush Intercontinental to Louis Armstrong
304 miles great-circle distance, typically flown in 1h 01m with 5 airlines operating direct service from George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) to Louis Armstrong (MSY). Cheapest fares are usually in January (around $79 return), with peak prices in August (around $237). Departures on a Tuesday tend to undercut weekend prices on this corridor.
Flying from George Bush Intercontinental
Houston George Bush Intercontinental is United Airlines' second-largest hub after Newark, with five terminals and a Skytrain people mover connecting them. METRO's bus 102 runs from the airport to downtown Houston in around 50 minutes; light rail does not extend to IAH. International long-haul through Houston is heaviest to Latin America (over 30 destinations) and Europe, with Lufthansa, KLM, Air France and British Airways all operating daily and growing Middle East service via Qatar, Emirates and Turkish.
Arriving in New Orleans
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International is 11 miles west of the French Quarter. Jefferson Transit E2 bus runs every 30 minutes to downtown for $2; rideshare to the Quarter runs $35–$50. Fares to MSY peak sharply around Mardi Gras (February) and Jazz Fest (late April–early May); summer (June–August) is consistently the cheapest despite Gulf-coast heat.
Who flies IAH to MSY?
| Airline | IATA | Flight time | Cabin |
| United Airlines | UA | 1h 01m | Economy |
| American Airlines | AA | 1h 01m | Economy |
| Spirit Airlines | NK | 1h 01m | Economy |
| Frontier Airlines | F9 | 1h 01m | Economy |
| Delta Air Lines | DL | 1h 01m | Economy |
5 carriers fly direct on this corridor. Frequencies vary by season — summer and winter holiday peaks see additional flights.
Best time to fly IAH→MSY
Synthesised from 12-month price aggregates. Cheapest months in green, peak in red.
Estimated baseline. Prices update on a 30-day cadence as Travelpayouts data refreshes. Cheapest day-of-week typically Tuesday.
Houston to New Orleans FAQs
Direct flights from George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) to Louis Armstrong (MSY) take approximately 1h 01m for the 304-mile journey, plus 30–60 minutes of taxi, climb and descent. Total airport-to-airport time depends on cruise winds and air-traffic queueing on approach.
January is typically the cheapest month on this route, with one-way fares from $79. August is the peak — expect prices 2–3× higher. Book 4–8 weeks ahead for best fares; last-minute prices on this corridor rise sharply inside two weeks of departure.
5 carriers operate direct service from George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) to Louis Armstrong (MSY): United Airlines, American Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Frontier Airlines and Delta Air Lines. Frequencies vary by season and carrier — United Airlines typically operates the highest weekly count on this corridor.
No — United States is domestic travel for US citizens. A US passport is not required for the 50 states, DC or US territories (Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands), though Real ID-compliant ID is required at TSA from May 2025.
Louis Armstrong (MSY) is the primary international airport for New Orleans. Allow 30–60 minutes for the ground transfer by train, express bus, taxi or rideshare depending on traffic and time of day. See the airport's official website for current train and shuttle timetables.