Washington (DCA) to Tampa (TPA): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
The calendar drives reliability on DCA–TPA. September 2024 flights landed on schedule 87% of the time, but July 2024 dropped to 63% — a gap of 24 points. Across the full period the route averages 74% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (86% vs 61%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 74%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 21 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 2.7%
- Flights/day
- 6.1
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 30m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 814 mi
Best airline from DCA to TPA
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Airlinesmost reliable | 78% | 17 min | 2.2% | 1,457 |
| American Airlines | 72% | 24 min | 3.0% | 2,956 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DCA to TPA
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (96% on-time); avoid 4 p.m. departures (50%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 76% | 21 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 80% | 16 min |
| Wednesday | 77% | 19 min |
| Thursday | 70% | 25 min |
| Friday | 72% | 24 min |
| Saturday | 80% | 19 min |
| Sunday | 67% | 26 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft54%
- Airline operations25%
- National airspace system18%
- Weather4%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DCA to TPA delayed?
- 26% of DCA–TPA flights arrived 15 or more minutes late (the US DOT definition of a delay) between 2024-07 and 2026-07. The average arrival delay across completed flights was 21 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from DCA to TPA?
- Southwest Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 78%, based on 1,457 flights. 2 airlines flew DCA–TPA frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DCA to TPA?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (96% on-time), while departures around 4 p.m. have the worst (50%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from DCA to TPA?
- The scheduled DCA–TPA flight time averages 2h 30m over 814 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 26% of the time.
- How often are DCA to TPA flights cancelled?
- 2.7% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-07 and 2026-07, slightly above the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from DCA to TPA?
- July 2024 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 63% of arrivals on time. The best was September 2024 at 87%. If your dates are flexible, that 24-point gap is worth planning around.
Explore related pages
More routes from DCA
Other ways to fly to Tampa (TPA)
Related guides
Based on 4,454 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.