70% of flights from Tampa 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 94% of the time; the 6 p.m. ones 46%. Most reliable airline: JetBlue (82%). 13% 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 → FLL: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 50% of the time. About 1 in 10 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 59 three hours or more; 3.2% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early70%
- 15–30 min late8.6%
- 30–60 min late8.2%
- 1–2 hours late5.9%
- 2–3 hours late2.4%
- 3+ hours late1.7%
- Diverted0.2%
- Cancelled3.2%
Share of all 1,410 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spirit Airlines | 691 | 65% | 3.9% | −2 min | 12.6% | +65 min | Spirit Airlines |
| Southwest Airlines | 364 | 67% | 2.2% | +3 min | 7.1% | +54 min | Southwest Airlines |
| JetBlue | 355 | 82% | 2.8% | −10 min | 7.9% | +119 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 TPA). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
By airline and hour
| Departs | Spirit Airlines | JetBlue |
|---|---|---|
| 7 a.m. | — | 93% |
| 8 a.m. | 69% | 87% |
| 6 p.m. | 46% | — |
Last flight of the day
On TPA → FLL, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 6.4% of the time, against 2.8% for its earlier flights (2.3× as often). It arrived 3+ hours late 3.7% of the time (earlier flights: 0.9%). 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 | — | 5.8% | 1.2% | 2.9% | — |
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 FLL tonight, book an earlier flight so there's a backup if it's cancelled.
By month
Each calendar month pooled over 2023–2026. Best: November (87%). Worst: March (68%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 213 | 69% | 4.2% |
| Tuesday | 192 | 77% | 2.1% |
| Wednesday | 189 | 76% | 1.6% |
| Thursday | 204 | 66% | 2.0% |
| Friday | 210 | 67% | 3.8% |
| Saturday | 197 | 72% | 5.1% |
| Sunday | 205 | 63% | 3.4% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: airline 22 · weather 13 · air traffic/airport 10
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B6 1906 | 8:30 a.m. | 270 | 90% | 1.1% | −11 min | JetBlue |
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 27, 2026 | 5 | 0% | 0 |
| Mar 17, 2026 | 5 | 0% | 1 |
| Jul 4, 2026 | 3 | 0% | 0 |
| Oct 15, 2025 | 3 | 0% | 0 |
| Mar 15, 2026 | 6 | 17% | 1 |
Nearby airport alternatives
Other ways to make the same trip, using airports within 60 miles of Tampa or Fort Lauderdale. SRQ → MIA has been 24 points more reliable.
| Route | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| TPA → FLL (this route) | 1,410 | 70% | 3.2% |
| SRQ → MIA Sarasota Bradenton to Miami | 368 | 94% | 0.0% |
| TPA → MIA Tampa to Miami | 2,924 | 78% | 1.1% |
Questions
How often are flights from TPA to FLL on time?
70% of 1,410 scheduled flights from Tampa, FL to Fort Lauderdale, FL arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 3.2% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly TPA to FLL?
Flights scheduled to leave at 7 a.m. were the most reliable (94% on time). The 6 p.m. departures were the least (46%).
Which airline is most on time from TPA to FLL?
JetBlue: 82% of its 355 flights on the route arrived on time. Spirit Airlines: 65%. Southwest Airlines: 67%.
What month has the most delays from TPA to FLL?
March (68% on time). The best month is November (87%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from TPA to FLL more likely to be cancelled?
Yes. Each airline's last TPA–FLL flight of the day was cancelled 6.4% 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 → TPA (return)
- Tampa (TPA) delays by hour
- Flights into Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
- Spirit Airlines on-time record
- Southwest 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.