69% of flights from Orlando to Fort Lauderdale arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is worse than the typical U.S. route. The 6 a.m. departures ran on time 92% of the time; the 9 p.m. ones 50%. Most reliable airline: Spirit Airlines (69%). 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 MCO → FLL: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 56% of the time. About 1 in 10 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 63 three hours or more; 1.2% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early69%
- 15–30 min late10%
- 30–60 min late10%
- 1–2 hours late6.3%
- 2–3 hours late1.7%
- 3+ hours late1.6%
- Diverted0.1%
- Cancelled1.2%
Share of all 1,453 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 | 628 | 69% | 0.8% | 0 min | 7.6% | +53 min | Southwest Airlines |
| Spirit Airlines | 613 | 69% | 2.0% | −2 min | 9.5% | +59 min | Spirit Airlines |
| JetBlue | 212 | 67% | 0.5% | −3 min | 15.6% | +89 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 MCO). 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 | JetBlue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 a.m. | — | 92% | — |
| 10 a.m. | 84% | — | — |
| 6 p.m. | — | 56% | 55% |
| 7 p.m. | — | 61% | — |
| 8 p.m. | 61% | — | — |
| 9 p.m. | 49% | — | — |
Last flight of the day
On MCO → FLL, 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 3.5% of the time (earlier flights: 0.4%). 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 | 6:24 p.m. | 0.0% | 7.8% | 0.9% | first flight 9:55 a.m. |
| Spirit Airlines | — | 2.1% | 2.5% | 1.6% | — |
| Southwest Airlines | 9:15 p.m. | 0.4% | 2.6% | 0.0% | first flight 9:10 p.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 (87%). Worst: March (67%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 210 | 68% | 1.4% |
| Tuesday | 209 | 76% | 1.0% |
| Wednesday | 215 | 77% | 1.9% |
| Thursday | 211 | 68% | 0.5% |
| Friday | 208 | 64% | 1.0% |
| Saturday | 203 | 68% | 1.0% |
| Sunday | 197 | 59% | 2.0% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: weather 8 · airline 5 · air traffic/airport 5
Month by month
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 30, 2025 | 5 | 0% | 0 |
| Mar 17, 2026 | 5 | 0% | 2 |
| Aug 28, 2026 | 4 | 0% | 0 |
| Mar 16, 2026 | 4 | 0% | 3 |
| Mar 22, 2026 | 4 | 0% | 1 |
Nearby airport alternatives
Other ways to make the same trip, using airports within 60 miles of Orlando or Fort Lauderdale. MCO → MIA has been 5 points more reliable.
| Route | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| MCO → FLL (this route) | 1,453 | 69% | 1.2% |
| MCO → MIA Orlando to Miami | 3,700 | 74% | 1.2% |
| MCO → PBI Orlando to President Donald J. Trump | 553 | 69% | 0.5% |
Questions
How often are flights from MCO to FLL on time?
69% of 1,453 scheduled flights from Orlando, FL to Fort Lauderdale, FL arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 1.2% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly MCO to FLL?
Flights scheduled to leave at 6 a.m. were the most reliable (92% on time). The 9 p.m. departures were the least (50%).
Which airline is most on time from MCO to FLL?
Spirit Airlines: 69% of its 613 flights on the route arrived on time. Southwest Airlines: 69%. JetBlue: 67%.
What month has the most delays from MCO to FLL?
March (67% on time). The best month is September (87%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from MCO to FLL more likely to be cancelled?
Not much. Each airline's last MCO–FLL 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
- FLL → MCO (return)
- Orlando (MCO) delays by hour
- Flights into Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
- 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.