Best Time to Fly ORD to TPA: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Chicago O'Hare International → Tampa International
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
3,203 flights were scheduled from Chicago (ORD) to Tampa (TPA) in the last 12 months, and 73.4% of those that flew arrived on time, 4.2 points below the US average of 77.6%.
United Airlines was the most punctual of the 5 airlines on the route at 78.4%, while American Airlines trailed at 68.8%.
September has been the best month (84% on time) and Sunday the weakest day of the week (72%).
1.5% of flights were cancelled, versus 1.8% nationally.
ORD 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlines | 78.4% | 72 min | 0.6% | 1,433 |
| Southwest Airlines | 71.2% | 91 min | 0.9% | 214 |
| Frontier Airlines | 69.8% | 169 min | 4.5% | 156 |
| Spirit Airlines | 69.3% | 96 min | 3.2% | 252 |
| American Airlines | 68.8% | 72 min | 2.0% | 1,145 |
| Republic Airways | Limited data | 1 | ||
| Envoy Air | Limited data | 2 | ||
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly ORD to TPA
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 6,282 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12am–1am | Limited data | 1 | |
| 5am–6am | 89.2% | 0.0% | 37 |
| 6am–7am | 86.2% | 0.4% | 271 |
| 7am–8am | 87.1% | 1.6% | 883 |
| 8am–9am | 79.9% | 3.0% | 441 |
| 9am–10am | 79.9% | 0.3% | 335 |
| 10am–11am | 77.5% | 1.2% | 240 |
| 11am–12pm | 83.7% | 1.3% | 849 |
| 12pm–1pm | 77.8% | 0.0% | 81 |
| 1pm–2pm | 69.9% | 2.2% | 533 |
| 2pm–3pm | 69.7% | 1.3% | 615 |
| 3pm–4pm | 77.0% | 1.4% | 296 |
| 4pm–5pm | 65.2% | 5.5% | 73 |
| 5pm–6pm | 69.2% | 1.3% | 448 |
| 6pm–7pm | 68.9% | 1.4% | 927 |
| 7pm–8pm | 65.3% | 4.4% | 182 |
| 8pm–9pm | 45.1% | 5.6% | 54 |
| 9pm–10pm | Limited data | 9 | |
| 10pm–11pm | Limited data | 1 | |
| 11pm–12am | Limited data | 6 | |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on ORD 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) | 73.0% | -4.7 pts | 6.7% | 135 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 67.5% | -10.3 pts | 0.8% | 363 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 73.1% | -4.6 pts | 1.6% | 911 |
| All other days | 77.8% | — | 1.5% | 4,873 |
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).