79% of flights from Tampa to Austin arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is about the typical U.S. route. The 5 a.m. departures ran on time 96% of the time; the 4 p.m. ones 72%. Most reliable airline: Southwest Airlines (79%). 7% 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 → AUS: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 58% of the time. About 1 in 16 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 111 three hours or more; 0.7% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early79%
- 15–30 min late7.6%
- 30–60 min late5.8%
- 1–2 hours late4.1%
- 2–3 hours late1.3%
- 3+ hours late0.9%
- Diverted0.3%
- Cancelled0.7%
Share of all 1,560 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 | 1,143 | 79% | 0.4% | −7 min | 5.8% | +51 min | Southwest Airlines |
| Delta Air Lines | 417 | 79% | 1.4% | −15 min | 7.9% | +101 min | Delta Air Lines 88%, SkyWest 12% |
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 | Southwest Airlines | Delta Air Lines |
|---|---|---|
| 5 a.m. | 96% | — |
| noon | — | 80% |
| 4 p.m. | 72% | — |
Last flight of the day
On TPA → AUS, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 0.8% of the time, against 0.4% for its earlier flights (2.1× as often). It arrived 3+ hours late 0.8% of the time (earlier flights: 0.5%). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Airlines | 6:55 p.m. | 0.9% | 0.6% | 0.3% | first flight 6:00 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 AUS tonight, book an earlier flight so there's a backup if it's cancelled.
By month
Each calendar month pooled over 2023–2026. Best: February (84%). Worst: May (72%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 253 | 74% | 1.6% |
| Tuesday | 216 | 85% | 1.4% |
| Wednesday | 217 | 85% | 0.0% |
| Thursday | 246 | 82% | 0.0% |
| Friday | 250 | 80% | 0.4% |
| Saturday | 152 | 82% | 1.3% |
| Sunday | 226 | 70% | 0.4% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: airline 5 · weather 3 · air traffic/airport 3
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DL 487 | 12:44 p.m. | 214 | 79% | 1.4% | −16 min | Delta Air Lines |
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 16, 2026 | 6 | 17% | 2 |
| Mar 17, 2026 | 5 | 20% | 1 |
| Dec 27, 2025 | 5 | 20% | 0 |
| Jun 15, 2026 | 4 | 25% | 0 |
| Jun 8, 2026 | 4 | 25% | 0 |
Questions
How often are flights from TPA to AUS on time?
79% of 1,560 scheduled flights from Tampa, FL to Austin, TX arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 0.7% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly TPA to AUS?
Flights scheduled to leave at 5 a.m. were the most reliable (96% on time). The 4 p.m. departures were the least (72%).
Which airline is most on time from TPA to AUS?
Southwest Airlines: 79% of its 1,143 flights on the route arrived on time. Delta Air Lines: 79%.
What month has the most delays from TPA to AUS?
May (72% on time). The best month is February (84%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from TPA to AUS more likely to be cancelled?
Yes. Each airline's last TPA–AUS flight of the day was cancelled 0.8% of the time over the past year, against 0.4% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- AUS → TPA (return)
- Tampa (TPA) delays by hour
- Flights into Austin-Bergstrom (AUS)
- Southwest Airlines on-time record
- Delta Air Lines 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.