72% of flights from Baltimore to Fort Lauderdale 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 87% of the time; the 8 p.m. ones 56%. Most reliable airline: Southwest Airlines (74%). 11% 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 BWI → FLL: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 58% of the time. About 1 in 13 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 67 three hours or more; 2.7% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early72%
- 15–30 min late9.7%
- 30–60 min late7.1%
- 1–2 hours late5.0%
- 2–3 hours late1.5%
- 3+ hours late1.5%
- Diverted0.1%
- Cancelled2.7%
Share of all 3,168 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 | 2,124 | 74% | 1.7% | −3 min | 7.1% | +55 min | Southwest Airlines |
| Spirit Airlines | 687 | 74% | 4.7% | −8 min | 7.0% | +63 min | Spirit Airlines |
| Frontier Airlines | 197 | 49% | 5.1% | +14 min | 21.3% | +90 min | Frontier Airlines |
| JetBlue | 160 | 68% | 5.0% | −11 min | 7.5% | +81 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 BWI). 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. | 93% | 82% |
| 7 a.m. | 90% | — |
| 8 a.m. | 84% | — |
| 10 a.m. | 77% | — |
| 2 p.m. | 74% | — |
| 4 p.m. | 67% | — |
| 5 p.m. | 60% | — |
| 6 p.m. | 59% | — |
| 7 p.m. | 65% | — |
| 8 p.m. | 52% | — |
Last flight of the day
On BWI → FLL, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 1.8% of the time, against 2.8% for its earlier flights, so here the last flight is actually the safer one. It arrived 3+ hours late 3.0% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spirit Airlines | — | 2.1% | 2.1% | 6.1% | — |
| Southwest Airlines | 8:15 p.m. | 1.9% | 2.7% | 1.7% | first flight 6:30 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: October (83%). Worst: July (64%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 471 | 73% | 4.3% |
| Tuesday | 402 | 81% | 2.5% |
| Wednesday | 396 | 83% | 0.5% |
| Thursday | 463 | 75% | 1.1% |
| Friday | 470 | 68% | 2.1% |
| Saturday | 481 | 71% | 2.3% |
| Sunday | 485 | 59% | 5.8% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: weather 42 · airline 32 · air traffic/airport 12
Month by month
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 25, 2026 | 11 | 0% | 11 |
| Jul 19, 2026 | 10 | 0% | 1 |
| Jan 18, 2026 | 10 | 10% | 0 |
| Dec 26, 2025 | 10 | 10% | 1 |
| Jan 26, 2026 | 9 | 11% | 2 |
Nearby airport alternatives
Other ways to make the same trip, using airports within 60 miles of Baltimore or Fort Lauderdale. IAD → MIA has been 11 points more reliable.
| Route | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| BWI → FLL (this route) | 3,168 | 72% | 2.7% |
| IAD → MIA Washington Dulles to Miami | 603 | 84% | 0.8% |
| IAD → FLL Washington Dulles to Fort Lauderdale | 802 | 78% | 1.0% |
| BWI → PBI Baltimore/Washington to President Donald J. Trump | 1,141 | 77% | 1.6% |
| DCA → MIA Washington Reagan National to Miami | 3,954 | 75% | 2.1% |
| BWI → MIA Baltimore/Washington to Miami | 2,294 | 73% | 2.4% |
| DCA → PBI Washington Reagan National to President Donald J. Trump | 1,689 | 72% | 2.0% |
Questions
How often are flights from BWI to FLL on time?
72% of 3,168 scheduled flights from Baltimore, MD to Fort Lauderdale, FL arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 2.7% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly BWI to FLL?
Flights scheduled to leave at 7 a.m. were the most reliable (87% on time). The 8 p.m. departures were the least (56%).
Which airline is most on time from BWI to FLL?
Southwest Airlines: 74% of its 2,124 flights on the route arrived on time. Spirit Airlines: 74%. Frontier Airlines: 49%. JetBlue: 68%.
What month has the most delays from BWI to FLL?
July (64% on time). The best month is October (83%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from BWI to FLL more likely to be cancelled?
No, the opposite. Each airline's last BWI–FLL flight of the day was cancelled 1.8% of the time over the past year, against 2.8% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- FLL → BWI (return)
- Baltimore/Washington (BWI) delays by hour
- Flights into Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
- Southwest Airlines on-time record
- Spirit Airlines on-time record
- Frontier 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.