Tampa (TPA) to San Francisco (SFO): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Tampa (TPA) to San Francisco (SFO) effectively runs on two schedules. In March 2026, 93% of arrivals were on time; in June 2026 that fell to 63% — a 30-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 79% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (88% vs 66%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 79%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 14 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.8%
- Flights/day
- 1.9
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 5h 50m
- 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 (54%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 76% | 16 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 88% | 8 min |
| Wednesday | 85% | 10 min |
| Thursday | 73% | 20 min |
| Friday | 80% | 13 min |
| Saturday | 86% | 11 min |
| Sunday | 71% | 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 aircraft31%
- Airline operations22%
- National airspace system41%
- Weather6%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from TPA to SFO delayed?
- 21% of TPA–SFO 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 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 (54%). 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 50m over 2,393 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 21% of the time.
- How often are TPA to SFO flights cancelled?
- 0.8% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-07 and 2026-07, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from TPA to SFO?
- June 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 63% of arrivals on time. The best was March 2026 at 93%. If your dates are flexible, that 30-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 1,368 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.