Tampa (TPA) to Chicago (ORD): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
The calendar drives reliability on TPA–ORD. September 2024 flights landed on schedule 91% of the time, but March 2026 dropped to 62% — a gap of 29 points. Across the full period the route averages 75% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (87% vs 59%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 75%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 21 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.8%
- Flights/day
- 8.8
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 3h 4m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 1,012 mi
Best airline from TPA to ORD
5 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlinesmost reliable | 78% | 18 min | 1.3% | 2,934 |
| American Airlines | 75% | 23 min | 2.0% | 2,259 |
| Spirit Airlines | 74% | 21 min | 3.0% | 777 |
| Southwest Airlines | 68% | 20 min | 0.9% | 214 |
| Frontier Airlines | 63% | 43 min | 3.1% | 325 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from TPA to ORD
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (93% on-time); avoid 6 p.m. departures (56%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 75% | 24 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 82% | 14 min |
| Wednesday | 77% | 17 min |
| Thursday | 74% | 24 min |
| Friday | 74% | 23 min |
| Saturday | 76% | 19 min |
| Sunday | 70% | 28 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft37%
- Airline operations23%
- National airspace system34%
- Weather7%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from TPA to ORD delayed?
- 25% of TPA–ORD 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 21 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from TPA to ORD?
- United Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 78%, based on 2,934 flights. 5 airlines flew TPA–ORD frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from TPA to ORD?
- Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (93% on-time), while departures around 6 p.m. have the worst (56%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from TPA to ORD?
- The scheduled TPA–ORD flight time averages 3h 4m over 1,012 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 25% of the time.
- How often are TPA to ORD flights cancelled?
- 1.8% 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 ORD?
- March 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 62% of arrivals on time. The best was September 2024 at 91%. If your dates are flexible, that 29-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 6,512 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.