72% of flights from Nashville to Tampa arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is worse than the typical U.S. route. The 5 a.m. departures ran on time 90% of the time; the 6 p.m. ones 50%. Most reliable airline: American Airlines (78%). 8% 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 BNA → TPA: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 66% of the time. About 1 in 15 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 155 three hours or more; 0.9% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early72%
- 15–30 min late12%
- 30–60 min late8.1%
- 1–2 hours late4.3%
- 2–3 hours late1.6%
- 3+ hours late0.6%
- Diverted0.3%
- Cancelled0.9%
Share of all 2,479 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 | 1,764 | 69% | 0.9% | 0 min | 7.4% | +51 min | Southwest Airlines |
| American Airlines | 715 | 78% | 1.0% | −5 min | 4.5% | +49 min | Envoy |
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 BNA). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
By airline and hour
| Departs | Southwest Airlines | American Airlines |
|---|---|---|
| 5 a.m. | 90% | — |
| 6 a.m. | 88% | — |
| 8 a.m. | — | 81% |
| 11 a.m. | 76% | — |
| 1 p.m. | 68% | 76% |
| 2 p.m. | 63% | — |
| 3 p.m. | 55% | — |
| 5 p.m. | 52% | — |
| 6 p.m. | 51% | — |
| 7 p.m. | 61% | — |
Last flight of the day
On BNA → TPA, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 1.0% of the time, against 0.9% for its earlier flights, about the same. It arrived 3+ hours late 0.6% of the time (earlier flights: 0.7%). 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 | 1:30 p.m. | 1.4% | 0.3% | 0.6% | first flight 8:31 a.m. |
| Southwest Airlines | 7:55 p.m. | 0.5% | 0.8% | 0.9% | first flight 6:40 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: September (82%). Worst: July (66%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 367 | 70% | 1.1% |
| Tuesday | 345 | 81% | 0.0% |
| Wednesday | 344 | 78% | 0.0% |
| Thursday | 357 | 70% | 0.0% |
| Friday | 362 | 68% | 1.1% |
| Saturday | 316 | 70% | 1.9% |
| Sunday | 388 | 67% | 2.1% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: weather 11 · air traffic/airport 8 · airline 3
Month by month
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2, 2026 | 8 | 0% | 0 |
| Mar 16, 2026 | 7 | 0% | 4 |
| Jan 25, 2026 | 7 | 0% | 5 |
| May 22, 2026 | 7 | 14% | 0 |
| Jun 22, 2026 | 7 | 14% | 0 |
Nearby airport alternatives
Other ways to make the same trip, using airports within 60 miles of Nashville or Tampa. None has been clearly more reliable than BNA → TPA.
| Route | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| BNA → TPA (this route) | 2,479 | 72% | 0.9% |
| BNA → SRQ Nashville to Sarasota Bradenton | 708 | 69% | 1.1% |
Questions
How often are flights from BNA to TPA on time?
72% of 2,479 scheduled flights from Nashville, TN to Tampa, FL arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 0.9% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly BNA to TPA?
Flights scheduled to leave at 5 a.m. were the most reliable (90% on time). The 6 p.m. departures were the least (50%).
Which airline is most on time from BNA to TPA?
American Airlines: 78% of its 715 flights on the route arrived on time. Southwest Airlines: 69%.
What month has the most delays from BNA to TPA?
July (66% on time). The best month is September (82%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from BNA to TPA more likely to be cancelled?
Not much. Each airline's last BNA–TPA flight of the day was cancelled 1.0% 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
- TPA → BNA (return)
- Nashville (BNA) delays by hour
- Flights into Tampa (TPA)
- Southwest Airlines on-time record
- American 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.