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Route · DTW → TPA · 2020–2025 BTS data

Detroit to Tampa

According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking (BTS On-Time Performance total flights), DTW to TPA (Detroit to Tampa) ranks #739 of 4927 tracked domestic routes by total flights (most flights = #1).

Data updated 2026-06-13

83%
On-time
+4 pts
vs US avg
68 min
Delay when late
13,493
Flights
#739 of 4927
Corpus placement

Cancelled

1.6%

Best Month

Sep 2025 96%

Worst Month

Dec 2025 63%

Distance

983 mi

Carriers

12

Monthly Performance

Recent 24 months of route data.

Period Flights Delayed Cancelled Diverted Carriers
Dec 2025 233 87 5 0 DL,F9,NK
Nov 2025 173 24 6 0 DL,F9,NK
Oct 2025 181 18 0 0 DL,NK
Sep 2025 149 6 0 1 DL,NK
Aug 2025 170 24 2 2 NK,DL
Jul 2025 182 42 2 0 DL,NK
Jun 2025 176 38 1 0 DL,NK
May 2025 178 37 0 0 DL,NK
Apr 2025 236 44 2 0 DL,F9,NK,WN
Mar 2025 308 56 2 0 DL,NK,WN,F9
Feb 2025 211 67 3 1 DL,F9,NK
Jan 2025 180 56 0 0 DL,F9,NK
Dec 2024 200 49 0 0 DL,F9,NK
Nov 2024 174 18 0 0 NK,DL,F9
Oct 2024 157 12 16 2 DL,NK
Sep 2024 132 12 6 0 DL,NK
Aug 2024 170 29 6 0 DL,NK
Jul 2024 174 41 11 3 DL,NK
Jun 2024 175 32 0 0 DL,F9,NK
May 2024 208 35 3 1 DL,F9,NK
Apr 2024 246 30 4 2 DL,F9,NK,WN
Mar 2024 281 98 1 1 DL,F9,NK,WN
Feb 2024 212 20 0 0 DL,F9,NK
Jan 2024 204 73 4 0 DL,F9,NK

DTW–TPA seasonal on-time pattern

Best: September (92.3%) · weakest: December (77.9%)

75%80%85%90%95% JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec 77.9%

Strongest calendar month

September

92.3% on-time · ~132 flights/mo

Busiest calendar month

March

~281 flights/mo avg

Weakest calendar month

December

77.9% on-time · ~218 flights/mo

Cancellation Rate

1.6%

74 of 4,710 flights

Diversion Rate

0.3%

13 of 4,710 flights

Explore origin & destination

On-time and delay data for the airports this route connects.

DTW - Detroit

Full on-time, delay-cause, and seasonal performance for Detroit, MI.

DTW on-time profile

TPA - Tampa

Full on-time, delay-cause, and seasonal performance for Tampa, FL.

TPA on-time profile

Compare the two airports

See DTW and TPA side by side on delays, cancellations, and reliability.

Compare DTW vs TPA

Origin-hub reliability standing

Mid-pack among DTW departures

From DTW, this corridor sits with 60 other 75–85% on-time routes out of 94 tracked departures, not the hub's reliability leaders (34 at ≥85%) and not the softest ( 0 below 75%). Destination: Tampa · fleet on-time rank #1940 of 4927.

What the Data Says About DTW to TPA

Bureau of Transportation Statistics records show Detroit to Tampa (DTW to TPA) running a 83% on-time rate over 13,493 tracked flights, on the stronger end of a typical domestic pairing. When flights do run late, the average delay is 67.5 minutes. The 983-mile corridor is served by 12 carriers, and over the last 24 months 1.6% of 4,710 flights were cancelled, 0.3% diverted.

The monthly split is wide on this route: Sep 2025 posted the strongest performance at 96% on-time, while Dec 2025 came in at just 63% - a 33-point swing worth factoring into travel timing.

On the multi-year calendar, DTW–TPA peaks in September at 92.3% on-time while March carries the heaviest traffic (~281 flights per month) ; the softest month is December at 77.9%, a 14.4-point swing that repeats because the corridor's weather and holiday mix stays stable year to year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does DTW to TPA rank among US routes by traffic? ▼
According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking, DTW to TPA ranks #739 of 4927 tracked domestic routes by total flights (most flights = #1). That ordinal matches our busiest-routes listing (total_flights DESC). See /methodology#corpus-placement for the exact sort basis.
How often are flights delayed from DTW to TPA? ▼
Flights from Detroit to Tampa have a 83% on-time rate based on 13,493 flights. The average delay is 67.5 minutes. The best recent month was Sep 2025 with 96% on-time.
What is the cancellation rate for DTW to TPA? ▼
Over the last 24 months, 1.6% of flights on this route were cancelled (74 of 4,710 flights) and 0.3% were diverted.
How far is the flight from DTW to TPA? ▼
The flight distance from Detroit (DTW) to Tampa (TPA) is approximately 983 miles. This route is served by 12 carriers.
When is the best time to fly from DTW to TPA? ▼
The best recent month for on-time performance was Sep 2025 (96% on-time). The worst was Dec 2025 (63% on-time). Consider booking during months with historically better performance.

Airports on this route

DTW Airport

Detroit
TPA Airport

Tampa
Data source

Data Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), On-Time Performance Data. Statistics reflect cumulative performance across all available reporting periods.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Using DTW–TPA data

DTW–TPA runs 4 pts above the national 79% average; the remaining risk is month-to-month swing and carrier mix, not a weak headline rate.

  • Compare DTW and TPA airport profiles: delay causes and top routes differ even on the same corridor. DTW airport
  • If your dates flex, September (92.3% on-time) beats December (77.9%) on this corridor. Seasonal chart
  • 4 other routes post a similar 83% on-time rate; compare before you commit to this pairing. Similar routes

On-time rate reflects the BTS historical average across all reporting carriers on this origin–destination pair, not any single flight or booking recommendation.

Data sourced from U.S. Department of Transportation Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) On-Time Performance data. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainFlights

Every figure on PlainFlights is rendered directly from BTS On-Time Performance data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page aggregates this specific route's on-time performance and monthly trend, live from the dataset. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.