Tampa (TPA) to Buffalo (BUF): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
The calendar drives reliability on TPA–BUF. September 2024 flights landed on schedule 98% of the time, but July 2025 dropped to 64% — a gap of 33 points. Across the full period the route averages 81% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (92% vs 66%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 81%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 13 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.3%
- Flights/day
- 2.1
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 43m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 1,053 mi
Best airline from TPA to BUF
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Airlinesmost reliable | 83% | 12 min | 1.2% | 1,203 |
| Frontier Airlines | 73% | 18 min | 1.5% | 394 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from TPA to BUF
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (96% on-time); avoid 8 p.m. departures (58%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 83% | 12 min |
| Tuesday | 83% | 13 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 87% | 7 min |
| Thursday | 79% | 13 min |
| Friday | 82% | 12 min |
| Saturday | 80% | 14 min |
| Sunday | 75% | 20 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 operations26%
- National airspace system17%
- Weather3%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from TPA to BUF delayed?
- 19% of TPA–BUF 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 13 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from TPA to BUF?
- Southwest Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 83%, based on 1,203 flights. 2 airlines flew TPA–BUF frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from TPA to BUF?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (96% on-time), while departures around 8 p.m. have the worst (58%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from TPA to BUF?
- The scheduled TPA–BUF flight time averages 2h 43m over 1,053 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 19% of the time.
- How often are TPA to BUF flights cancelled?
- 1.3% 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 TPA to BUF?
- July 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 64% of arrivals on time. The best was September 2024 at 98%. If your dates are flexible, that 33-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 1,597 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.