Tampa (TPA) to Washington (DCA): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Tampa (TPA) to Washington (DCA) effectively runs on two schedules. In October 2024, 86% of arrivals were on time; in July 2025 that fell to 58% — a 28-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 73% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (83% vs 62%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 73%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 22 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 2.7%
- Flights/day
- 6.1
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 19m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 814 mi
Best airline from TPA to DCA
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Airlinesmost reliable | 75% | 16 min | 2.0% | 1,457 |
| American Airlines | 72% | 25 min | 3.1% | 2,956 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from TPA to DCA
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (98% on-time); avoid 3 p.m. departures (49%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 73% | 19 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 79% | 17 min |
| Wednesday | 76% | 19 min |
| Thursday | 71% | 24 min |
| Friday | 71% | 24 min |
| Saturday | 77% | 18 min |
| Sunday | 65% | 35 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft53%
- Airline operations23%
- National airspace system20%
- Weather5%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from TPA to DCA delayed?
- 27% of TPA–DCA 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 22 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from TPA to DCA?
- Southwest Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 75%, based on 1,457 flights. 2 airlines flew TPA–DCA frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from TPA to DCA?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (98% on-time), while departures around 3 p.m. have the worst (49%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from TPA to DCA?
- The scheduled TPA–DCA flight time averages 2h 19m over 814 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 27% of the time.
- How often are TPA to DCA 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 TPA to DCA?
- July 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 58% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 86%. If your dates are flexible, that 28-point gap is worth planning around.
Explore related pages
More routes from TPA
Other ways to fly to Washington (DCA)
Related guides
Based on 4,454 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.