72% of flights from Tampa to Washington 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 89% of the time; the 3 p.m. ones 49%. Most reliable airline: Southwest Airlines (73%). 12% 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 TPA → DCA: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 55% of the time. About 1 in 12 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 47 three hours or more; 2.5% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early72%
- 15–30 min late8.0%
- 30–60 min late8.0%
- 1–2 hours late4.8%
- 2–3 hours late1.5%
- 3+ hours late2.1%
- Diverted0.9%
- Cancelled2.5%
Share of all 2,249 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | 1,550 | 72% | 2.8% | −7 min | 9.7% | +87 min | American Airlines 98%, Republic Airways 2% |
| Southwest Airlines | 699 | 73% | 1.7% | −2 min | 5.3% | +51 min | Southwest 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 TPA). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
By airline and hour
| Departs | American Airlines | Southwest Airlines |
|---|---|---|
| 7 a.m. | 89% | — |
| 9 a.m. | — | 86% |
| 10 a.m. | — | 83% |
| 11 a.m. | 75% | — |
| 1 p.m. | 75% | 71% |
| 3 p.m. | — | 49% |
| 5 p.m. | 67% | — |
| 6 p.m. | 57% | — |
| 7 p.m. | 52% | — |
Last flight of the day
On TPA → DCA, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 2.8% of the time, against 2.4% for its earlier flights, about the same. It arrived 3+ hours late 2.5% of the time (earlier flights: 2.1%). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | 7:03 p.m. | 3.0% | 3.3% | 2.8% | first flight 7:00 a.m. |
| Southwest Airlines | 3:25 p.m. | 2.6% | 1.6% | 1.2% | first flight 9:45 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: November (82%). Worst: July (60%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 342 | 72% | 4.1% |
| Tuesday | 335 | 76% | 4.5% |
| Wednesday | 332 | 76% | 1.5% |
| Thursday | 327 | 74% | 1.2% |
| Friday | 334 | 72% | 0.9% |
| Saturday | 250 | 76% | 1.2% |
| Sunday | 329 | 61% | 3.6% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: weather 47 · air traffic/airport 5 · airline 4
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AA 2775 | 10:38 a.m. | 136 | 71% | 2.2% | −3 min | American Airlines |
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 26, 2026 | 7 | 0% | 5 |
| Jan 25, 2026 | 7 | 0% | 7 |
| Feb 1, 2026 | 7 | 0% | 0 |
| Jul 14, 2026 | 6 | 0% | 0 |
| Aug 2, 2026 | 6 | 0% | 1 |
Nearby airport alternatives
Other ways to make the same trip, using airports within 60 miles of Tampa or Washington. TPA → IAD has been 13 points more reliable.
| Route | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| TPA → DCA (this route) | 2,249 | 72% | 2.5% |
| TPA → IAD Tampa to Washington Dulles | 1,288 | 85% | 1.0% |
| SRQ → BWI Sarasota Bradenton to Baltimore/Washington | 1,248 | 82% | 1.7% |
| TPA → BWI Tampa to Baltimore/Washington | 2,626 | 80% | 1.8% |
| SRQ → DCA Sarasota Bradenton to Washington Reagan National | 465 | 72% | 1.7% |
Questions
How often are flights from TPA to DCA on time?
72% of 2,249 scheduled flights from Tampa, FL to Washington, DC arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 2.5% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly TPA to DCA?
Flights scheduled to leave at 7 a.m. were the most reliable (89% on time). The 3 p.m. departures were the least (49%).
Which airline is most on time from TPA to DCA?
Southwest Airlines: 73% of its 699 flights on the route arrived on time. American Airlines: 72%.
What month has the most delays from TPA to DCA?
July (60% on time). The best month is November (82%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from TPA to DCA more likely to be cancelled?
Not much. Each airline's last TPA–DCA flight of the day was cancelled 2.8% of the time over the past year, against 2.4% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- DCA → TPA (return)
- Tampa (TPA) delays by hour
- Flights into Washington Reagan National (DCA)
- American Airlines on-time record
- Southwest 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.