75% of flights from Columbus to Fort Lauderdale arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is worse than the typical U.S. route. The 6 a.m. departures ran on time 90% of the time; the 11 a.m. ones 71%. Most reliable airline: Southwest Airlines (79%). 10% of flights arrived more than an hour late or not at all.
How late?
The on-time rate treats a flight 20 minutes late the same as one 5 hours late. Here's the split for CMH → FLL: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 58% of the time. About 1 in 15 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 72 three hours or more; 3.2% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early75%
- 15–30 min late9.1%
- 30–60 min late6.0%
- 1–2 hours late4.2%
- 2–3 hours late1.1%
- 3+ hours late1.4%
- Diverted0.0%
- Cancelled3.2%
Share of all 718 scheduled flights, past 12 months, by arrival time against schedule.
By airline
| Airline | Flights | On time | Cancelled | Typical arrival | 1h+ late | Avg when late | Operated by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Airlines | 374 | 79% | 0.8% | −6 min | 5.1% | +52 min | Southwest Airlines |
| Spirit Airlines | 324 | 72% | 5.9% | −5 min | 8.0% | +75 min | Spirit Airlines |
| Frontier Airlines | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | Frontier Airlines |
Airline = the name on the ticket. Regional flights (e.g. "Delta Connection") count under the ticketing airline, and the operator is listed.
Best time of day to fly
On-time rate by scheduled departure hour (local time at CMH). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
By airline and hour
| Departs | Spirit Airlines |
|---|---|
| 5 a.m. | 77% |
Last flight of the day
On CMH → FLL, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 6.3% of the time, against 6.2% for its earlier flights, about the same. It arrived 3+ hours late 2.1% of the time (earlier flights: 1.8%). It matters more than the numbers suggest. Miss an earlier flight and there's another one that evening; miss the last one and you're usually waiting until morning.
| Airline | Last departure | Last: cancelled | Last: 3h+ late | Earlier: cancelled | Next morning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spirit Airlines | — | 7.9% | 2.0% | 8.9% | — |
Last flight = the airline's last scheduled departure on this route that day, on days it flies the route at least twice; past 12 months. Times are typical scheduled times over the latest three months.
By month
Each calendar month pooled over 2023–2026. Best: April (84%). Worst: December (69%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 109 | 72% | 2.8% |
| Tuesday | 70 | — | — |
| Wednesday | 61 | — | — |
| Thursday | 112 | 76% | 3.6% |
| Friday | 108 | 80% | 2.8% |
| Saturday | 132 | 74% | 2.3% |
| Sunday | 126 | 69% | 5.6% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: weather 12 · airline 10 · air traffic/airport 1
Month by month
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 17, 2026 | 4 | 0% | 1 |
| Apr 7, 2026 | 3 | 0% | 0 |
| Apr 6, 2026 | 3 | 0% | 0 |
| Jan 26, 2026 | 3 | 0% | 0 |
| Jan 25, 2026 | 3 | 0% | 3 |
Nearby airport alternatives
Other ways to make the same trip, using airports within 60 miles of Columbus or Fort Lauderdale. CMH → MIA has been 9 points more reliable.
| Route | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| CMH → FLL (this route) | 718 | 75% | 3.2% |
| CMH → MIA John Glenn Columbus to Miami | 1,181 | 84% | 0.3% |
Questions
How often are flights from CMH to FLL on time?
75% of 718 scheduled flights from Columbus, OH to Fort Lauderdale, FL arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 3.2% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly CMH to FLL?
Flights scheduled to leave at 6 a.m. were the most reliable (90% on time). The 11 a.m. departures were the least (71%).
Which airline is most on time from CMH to FLL?
Southwest Airlines: 79% of its 374 flights on the route arrived on time. Spirit Airlines: 72%.
What month has the most delays from CMH to FLL?
December (69% on time). The best month is April (84%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from CMH to FLL more likely to be cancelled?
Not much. Each airline's last CMH–FLL flight of the day was cancelled 6.3% of the time over the past year, against 6.2% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- FLL → CMH (return)
- John Glenn Columbus (CMH) delays by hour
- Flights into Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
- Southwest Airlines on-time record
- Spirit Airlines on-time record
- Frontier Airlines on-time record
- Connecting off this flight? Check the risk
Domestic flights by the airlines that report to the U.S. DOT, plus their regional partners. "On time" means arriving less than 15 minutes after schedule; cancelled and diverted flights count as not on time. Past performance is a guide, not a forecast. Method.