Tampa (TPA) to Chicago (MDW): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
When you fly TPA to MDW matters as much as anything else about the booking: the route swung from 91% on-time in November 2024 to just 63% in July 2024. Across the full period the route averages 77% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (87% vs 63%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 77%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 15 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.9%
- Flights/day
- 4.3
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 44m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 997 mi
Best airline from TPA to MDW
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Airlinesmost reliable | 77% | 15 min | 1.7% | 3,201 |
| Frontier Airlines | 74% | 20 min | 4.3% | 277 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from TPA to MDW
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (92% on-time); avoid 6 p.m. departures (59%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 75% | 18 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 80% | 11 min |
| Wednesday | 79% | 14 min |
| Thursday | 78% | 14 min |
| Friday | 78% | 14 min |
| Saturday | 79% | 13 min |
| Sunday | 73% | 22 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft55%
- Airline operations24%
- National airspace system17%
- Weather4%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from TPA to MDW delayed?
- 23% of TPA–MDW 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 15 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from TPA to MDW?
- Southwest Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 77%, based on 3,201 flights. 2 airlines flew TPA–MDW frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from TPA to MDW?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (92% on-time), while departures around 6 p.m. have the worst (59%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from TPA to MDW?
- The scheduled TPA–MDW flight time averages 2h 44m over 997 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 23% of the time.
- How often are TPA to MDW flights cancelled?
- 1.9% 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 MDW?
- July 2024 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 63% of arrivals on time. The best was November 2024 at 91%. If your dates are flexible, that 28-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 3,478 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.