New Orleans (MSY) to Orlando (MCO)

Distance, flight time and the air traffic controllers who guide you.

Quick answer

New Orleans (MSY) to Orlando (MCO) is 550 miles in a straight line, about 1h 36m gate to gate. Your flight is handed between 6 air traffic control facilities along the way.

550miles
478nautical miles
886kilometers
~1h 36mestimated flight time
+1 htime change on arrival
Eastinitial heading

Who handles your flight

Every airliner is passed from one air traffic control facility to the next. On the most direct path, these are the teams that guide you, in order. Weather and traffic can send a flight through other centers, so your actual flight may differ a little.

  1. MSYTowerLouis Armstrong New Orleans Tower (MSY)Clears you for takeoffThank them →
  2. ZHUCenterHouston ARTCC (ZHU)Takes over at cruising altitudeThank them →
  3. ZMACenterMiami ARTCC (ZMA)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
  4. ZJXCenterJacksonville ARTCC (ZJX)Starts your descentThank them →
  5. F11TRACONCentral Florida TRACON (F11)Lines you up for the approachThank them →
  6. MCOTowerOrlando International Tower (MCO)Clears you to landThank them →

Flying the other way

Orlando (MCO) to New Orleans (MSY)

MCO → F11 → ZJX → ZMA → ZHU → MSY

About the airports

Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport

New Orleans, LA

Codes: MSY · KMSY

Time zone: Central

Control tower: Louis Armstrong New Orleans Tower (MSY)

Thank the tower →

Orlando International Airport

Orlando, FL

Codes: MCO · KMCO

Time zone: Eastern

Control tower: Orlando International Tower (MCO)

Thank the tower →

More routes

All flight routes →

How we figure this out

Distance is the great-circle distance between the two airports, the shortest path over the curved Earth. Flight time assumes an average airliner speed of about 500 mph plus about 30 minutes for taxi, takeoff and landing. The list of facilities follows the same path, using each airport's tower and approach control and the FAA's en route center boundaries.

Say thanks to the controllers who got you there. It's free, takes 30 seconds, and every post is checked before it goes up.

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Common questions

How long is the flight from New Orleans (MSY) to Orlando (MCO)?

About 1h 36m gate to gate for the 550-mile trip. Flying east, you often pick up a tailwind, so it can be a little shorter.

How far is New Orleans (MSY) from Orlando (MCO)?

550 miles (478 nautical miles, 886 km) in a straight line. The path your flight actually takes is usually a little longer.

Which air traffic controllers handle a flight from New Orleans (MSY) to Orlando (MCO)?

Usually 6 facilities: Louis Armstrong New Orleans Tower (MSY), Houston ARTCC (ZHU), Miami ARTCC (ZMA), Jacksonville ARTCC (ZJX), Central Florida TRACON (F11) and Orlando International Tower (MCO). You can thank each one on its own wall at Thank ATC.

Is there a time change between New Orleans (MSY) and Orlando (MCO)?

Yes. Orlando (MCO) is 1 hour ahead of New Orleans (MSY).

Updated October 2026

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