San Francisco (SFO) to Tampa (TPA): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
San Francisco (SFO) to Tampa (TPA) effectively runs on two schedules. In June 2024, 93% of arrivals were on time; in August 2024 that fell to 58% — a 35-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 85% on-time against a national 78%.
- On-time
- 85%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 8 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.7%
- Flights/day
- 2.0
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 5h 10m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 2,393 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from SFO to TPA
Aim for departures around 7 a.m. (93% on-time); avoid 4 p.m. departures (75%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 89% | 8 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 90% | 5 min |
| Wednesday | 86% | 8 min |
| Thursday | 83% | 9 min |
| Friday | 85% | 7 min |
| Saturday | 84% | 12 min |
| Sunday | 79% | 10 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft41%
- Airline operations27%
- National airspace system33%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from SFO to TPA delayed?
- 15% of SFO–TPA flights arrived 15 or more minutes late (the US DOT definition of a delay) between 2024-06 and 2026-05. The average arrival delay across completed flights was 8 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from SFO to TPA?
- Departures around 7 a.m. have the best record (93% on-time), while departures around 4 p.m. have the worst (75%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from SFO to TPA?
- The scheduled SFO–TPA flight time averages 5h 10m over 2,393 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 15% of the time.
- How often are SFO to TPA flights cancelled?
- 0.7% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from SFO to TPA?
- August 2024 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 58% of arrivals on time. The best was June 2024 at 93%. If your dates are flexible, that 35-point gap is worth planning around.
Explore related pages
More routes from SFO
Other ways to fly to Tampa (TPA)
Related guides
Based on 1,298 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.