Best Time to Fly RDU to TPA: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Raleigh-Durham International → Tampa International
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
1,290 flights were scheduled from Raleigh/Durham (RDU) to Tampa (TPA) in the last 12 months, and 82.4% of those that flew arrived on time, 4.8 points above the US average of 77.6%.
Delta Air Lines was the most punctual of the 3 airlines on the route at 84.8%, while Frontier Airlines trailed at 80.0%.
September has been the best month (92% on time) and Sunday the weakest day of the week (77%).
2.2% of flights were cancelled, versus 1.8% nationally.
RDU 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Lines | 84.8% | 77 min | 2.1% | 650 |
| Southwest Airlines | 80.0% | 49 min | 1.6% | 382 |
| Frontier Airlines | 80.0% | 73 min | 3.1% | 258 |
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly RDU to TPA
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 2,587 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5am–6am | Limited data | 5 | |
| 6am–7am | 92.3% | 2.8% | 576 |
| 7am–8am | 92.5% | 0.4% | 256 |
| 8am–9am | 87.8% | 2.4% | 42 |
| 9am–10am | 87.3% | 1.2% | 80 |
| 10am–11am | 90.5% | 0.0% | 95 |
| 11am–12pm | 89.2% | 0.9% | 112 |
| 12pm–1pm | 91.4% | 2.5% | 119 |
| 1pm–2pm | 82.0% | 3.2% | 126 |
| 2pm–3pm | 70.8% | 2.0% | 49 |
| 3pm–4pm | 74.0% | 0.8% | 128 |
| 4pm–5pm | 63.2% | 1.1% | 88 |
| 5pm–6pm | 74.5% | 1.8% | 112 |
| 6pm–7pm | 70.4% | 2.0% | 600 |
| 7pm–8pm | 40.4% | 3.7% | 54 |
| 8pm–9pm | 61.4% | 2.2% | 45 |
| 9pm–10pm | 82.8% | 0.0% | 58 |
| 10pm–11pm | 85.4% | 2.4% | 42 |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on RDU 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) | 83.6% | -0.6 pts | 0.0% | 61 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 71.9% | -12.3 pts | 1.7% | 117 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 71.0% | -13.2 pts | 1.3% | 461 |
| All other days | 84.2% | — | 2.0% | 1,948 |
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).