76% of flights from Fort Lauderdale to Orlando arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is worse than the typical U.S. route. The 7 a.m. departures ran on time 96% of the time; the 10 p.m. ones 63%. Most reliable airline: Southwest Airlines (86%). 10% 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 FLL → MCO: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 50% of the time. About 1 in 12 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 81 three hours or more; 1.4% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early76%
- 15–30 min late6.7%
- 30–60 min late7.6%
- 1–2 hours late5.3%
- 2–3 hours late1.8%
- 3+ hours late1.2%
- Diverted0.1%
- Cancelled1.4%
Share of all 1,450 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Airlines | 629 | 86% | 1.4% | −8 min | 4.6% | +68 min | Southwest Airlines |
| Spirit Airlines | 612 | 70% | 1.3% | −5 min | 11.3% | +64 min | Spirit Airlines |
| JetBlue | 209 | 63% | 1.4% | −3 min | 11.0% | +70 min | JetBlue |
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 FLL). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
By airline and hour
| Departs | Southwest Airlines | Spirit Airlines |
|---|---|---|
| 6 a.m. | 97% | 76% |
| 7 a.m. | 96% | — |
| 5 p.m. | 76% | — |
| 10 p.m. | — | 63% |
Last flight of the day
On FLL → MCO, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 2.0% of the time, against 0.9% for its earlier flights (2.1× as often). It arrived 3+ hours late 1.3% of the time (earlier flights: 1.2%). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JetBlue | 8:59 p.m. | 1.9% | 3.9% | 0.9% | first flight 10:00 a.m. |
| Spirit Airlines | — | 2.1% | 0.4% | 0.8% | — |
| Southwest Airlines | 6:10 a.m. | 1.9% | 1.1% | 1.1% | first flight 6:10 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.
If you need to be in MCO tonight, book an earlier flight so there's a backup if it's cancelled.
By month
Each calendar month pooled over 2023–2026. Best: October (84%). Worst: March (66%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 211 | 73% | 0.9% |
| Tuesday | 209 | 81% | 1.9% |
| Wednesday | 209 | 85% | 0.5% |
| Thursday | 210 | 81% | 0.9% |
| Friday | 208 | 72% | 1.0% |
| Saturday | 206 | 73% | 2.9% |
| Sunday | 197 | 67% | 1.5% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: weather 9 · air traffic/airport 9 · airline 2
Month by month
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 17, 2026 | 5 | 0% | 2 |
| Mar 15, 2026 | 4 | 0% | 1 |
| Mar 22, 2026 | 4 | 0% | 0 |
| Jul 19, 2026 | 3 | 0% | 2 |
| Apr 11, 2026 | 5 | 20% | 0 |
Nearby airport alternatives
Other ways to make the same trip, using airports within 60 miles of Fort Lauderdale or Orlando. PBI → MCO has been 10 points more reliable.
| Route | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| FLL → MCO (this route) | 1,450 | 76% | 1.4% |
| PBI → MCO President Donald J. Trump to Orlando | 554 | 86% | 0.7% |
| MIA → MCO Miami to Orlando | 3,700 | 72% | 1.1% |
Questions
How often are flights from FLL to MCO on time?
76% of 1,450 scheduled flights from Fort Lauderdale, FL to Orlando, FL arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 1.4% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly FLL to MCO?
Flights scheduled to leave at 7 a.m. were the most reliable (96% on time). The 10 p.m. departures were the least (63%).
Which airline is most on time from FLL to MCO?
Southwest Airlines: 86% of its 629 flights on the route arrived on time. Spirit Airlines: 70%. JetBlue: 63%.
What month has the most delays from FLL to MCO?
March (66% on time). The best month is October (84%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from FLL to MCO more likely to be cancelled?
Yes. Each airline's last FLL–MCO flight of the day was cancelled 2.0% of the time over the past year, against 0.9% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- MCO → FLL (return)
- Fort Lauderdale (FLL) delays by hour
- Flights into Orlando (MCO)
- Southwest Airlines on-time record
- Spirit Airlines on-time record
- JetBlue 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.