Tampa (TPA) to San Francisco (SFO): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Tampa (TPA) to San Francisco (SFO) effectively runs on two schedules. In March 2026, 93% of arrivals were on time; in July 2025 that fell to 66% — a 27-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 80% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (87% vs 69%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 80%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 14 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.8%
- Flights/day
- 2.0
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 5h 51m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 2,393 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from TPA to SFO
Aim for departures around 9 a.m. (96% on-time); avoid 7 p.m. departures (58%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 78% | 14 min |
| Tuesday | 87% | 9 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 87% | 9 min |
| Thursday | 75% | 18 min |
| Friday | 79% | 14 min |
| Saturday | 86% | 11 min |
| Sunday | 72% | 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 aircraft32%
- Airline operations24%
- National airspace system38%
- Weather7%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from TPA to SFO delayed?
- 20% of TPA–SFO 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 14 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from TPA to SFO?
- Departures around 9 a.m. have the best record (96% on-time), while departures around 7 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 SFO?
- The scheduled TPA–SFO flight time averages 5h 51m over 2,393 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 20% of the time.
- How often are TPA to SFO flights cancelled?
- 0.8% 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 SFO?
- July 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 66% of arrivals on time. The best was March 2026 at 93%. If your dates are flexible, that 27-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 1,297 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.