Best Time to Fly BUF to DTW: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Buffalo Niagara International → Detroit Metro Wayne County
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
Over the last 12 months, 80.9% of Buffalo (BUF) to Detroit (DTW) flights arrived on time (1,207 scheduled flights). That is 3.2 points above the national average of 77.6%.
Delta Air Lines was the most punctual of the 2 airlines on the route at 84.1%, while SkyWest Airlines trailed at 79.0%.
September has been the best month (92% on time) and Sunday the weakest day of the week (77%).
1.7% of flights were cancelled, versus 1.8% nationally.
BUF to DTW 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 | 84.1% | 96 min | 2.3% | 443 |
| SkyWest Airlines | 79.0% | 109 min | 1.3% | 757 |
| Republic Airways | Limited data | 7 | ||
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly BUF to DTW
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 2,304 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6am–7am | 86.8% | 1.1% | 730 |
| 8am–9am | 90.5% | 0.0% | 63 |
| 9am–10am | 84.0% | 1.2% | 240 |
| 10am–11am | 83.8% | 0.0% | 68 |
| 11am–12pm | 77.8% | 0.0% | 81 |
| 12pm–1pm | 79.2% | 1.0% | 296 |
| 1pm–2pm | 70.8% | 1.4% | 139 |
| 2pm–3pm | Limited data | 1 | |
| 3pm–4pm | 83.3% | 0.0% | 96 |
| 4pm–5pm | 78.8% | 0.0% | 33 |
| 5pm–6pm | 74.9% | 1.8% | 398 |
| 6pm–7pm | Limited data | 14 | |
| 7pm–8pm | 79.2% | 0.7% | 145 |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on BUF to DTW
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) | 66.0% | -16.7 pts | 2.1% | 48 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 61.8% | -20.9 pts | 2.9% | 70 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 81.6% | -1.1 pts | 1.7% | 353 |
| All other days | 82.7% | — | 0.8% | 1,833 |
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).