Tampa (TPA) to Los Angeles (LAX): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Tampa (TPA) to Los Angeles (LAX) effectively runs on two schedules. In February 2025, 92% of arrivals were on time; in July 2024 that fell to 64% — a 28-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 83% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (87% vs 77%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 83%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 11 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.3%
- Flights/day
- 3.3
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 5h 24m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 2,158 mi
Best airline from TPA to LAX
3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlinesmost reliable | 85% | 10 min | 0.9% | 800 |
| Delta Air Lines | 83% | 11 min | 1.6% | 1,226 |
| Southwest Airlines | 72% | 12 min | 0.0% | 113 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from TPA to LAX
Aim for departures around 12 p.m. (91% on-time); avoid 5 p.m. departures (61%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 83% | 11 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 88% | 6 min |
| Wednesday | 85% | 11 min |
| Thursday | 83% | 11 min |
| Friday | 80% | 12 min |
| Saturday | 86% | 10 min |
| Sunday | 77% | 14 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft38%
- Airline operations34%
- National airspace system19%
- Weather9%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from TPA to LAX delayed?
- 17% of TPA–LAX 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 11 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from TPA to LAX?
- United Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 85%, based on 800 flights. 3 airlines flew TPA–LAX frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from TPA to LAX?
- Departures around 12 p.m. have the best record (91% on-time), while departures around 5 p.m. have the worst (61%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from TPA to LAX?
- The scheduled TPA–LAX flight time averages 5h 24m over 2,158 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 17% of the time.
- How often are TPA to LAX 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 LAX?
- July 2024 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 64% of arrivals on time. The best was February 2025 at 92%. If your dates are flexible, that 28-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 2,156 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.