Best Time to Fly DCA to TPA: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Ronald Reagan Washington National → Tampa International
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
2,243 flights were scheduled from Washington (DCA) to Tampa (TPA) in the last 12 months, and 74.2% of those that flew arrived on time, 3.5 points below the US average of 77.6%.
Among 2 airlines, Southwest Airlines led with 78.4% on time and American Airlines was last with 71.9%.
Over 24 months, Saturday was the most reliable day (80% on time) and July the worst month (66%).
The cancellation rate was 2.5% (US average 1.8%).
DCA to TPA on-time performance by airline
Last 12 months. Airlines with fewer than 30 completed flights are marked “limited data”.
| Airline | On time | Avg delay when late | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Airlines | 78.4% | 64 min | 2.1% | 698 |
| American Airlines | 71.9% | 83 min | 2.6% | 1,519 |
| Republic Airways | Limited data | 26 | ||
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly DCA to TPA
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 4,303 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6am–7am | 96.3% | 2.6% | 193 |
| 7am–8am | 89.1% | 1.9% | 572 |
| 8am–9am | 81.8% | 2.9% | 589 |
| 9am–10am | 79.5% | 0.0% | 73 |
| 10am–11am | 85.8% | 2.5% | 557 |
| 11am–12pm | 78.6% | 0.8% | 128 |
| 12pm–1pm | 68.6% | 5.4% | 37 |
| 1pm–2pm | 74.1% | 1.8% | 327 |
| 2pm–3pm | 74.0% | 3.4% | 328 |
| 3pm–4pm | 60.2% | 2.2% | 408 |
| 4pm–5pm | 50.3% | 2.0% | 196 |
| 5pm–6pm | Limited data | 29 | |
| 6pm–7pm | 54.0% | 3.9% | 258 |
| 7pm–8pm | 62.9% | 5.3% | 453 |
| 8pm–9pm | 69.5% | 4.5% | 134 |
| 9pm–10pm | Limited data | 21 | |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on DCA to TPA
On-time arrivals during holiday periods compared with all other days, last 24 months.
| Period | On time | vs other days | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving week (Tue before to Mon after) | 79.5% | +3.0 pts | 1.1% | 89 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 71.5% | -5.1 pts | 0.5% | 188 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 66.7% | -9.9 pts | 4.7% | 705 |
| All other days | 76.6% | — | 2.6% | 3,321 |
Monthly on-time trend
On-time arrival % each month, with the 12-month US average for reference.
What causes delays on this route
Share of reported delay minutes, last 12 months (BTS cause categories).