Best Time to Fly DTW to IAD: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Detroit Metro Wayne County → Washington Dulles International
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
Over the last 12 months, 75.4% of Detroit (DTW) to Washington (IAD) flights arrived on time (1,153 scheduled flights). That is 2.3 points below the national average of 77.6%.
Among 4 airlines, Delta Air Lines led with 87.6% on time and SkyWest Airlines was last with 68.8%.
Over 24 months, Saturday was the most reliable day (80% on time) and January the worst month (55%).
The cancellation rate was 1.0% (US average 1.8%).
DTW to IAD 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 | 87.6% | 83 min | 1.4% | 147 |
| United Airlines | 87.2% | 127 min | 0.0% | 39 |
| Republic Airways | 84.8% | 63 min | 1.2% | 259 |
| SkyWest Airlines | 68.8% | 87 min | 1.0% | 708 |
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly DTW to IAD
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 2,431 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5am–6am | 85.2% | 3.6% | 56 |
| 6am–7am | 92.5% | 0.0% | 40 |
| 7am–8am | 87.5% | 0.0% | 231 |
| 8am–9am | 94.2% | 0.0% | 103 |
| 9am–10am | 76.2% | 0.0% | 63 |
| 10am–11am | 78.3% | 0.4% | 454 |
| 2pm–3pm | 70.1% | 0.0% | 304 |
| 3pm–4pm | 66.9% | 1.7% | 405 |
| 4pm–5pm | Limited data | 20 | |
| 7pm–8pm | 79.5% | 1.6% | 124 |
| 8pm–9pm | Limited data | 10 | |
| 9pm–10pm | 71.5% | 1.1% | 621 |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on DTW to IAD
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) | 43.3% | -34.5 pts | 0.0% | 30 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 69.6% | -8.2 pts | 1.0% | 103 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 71.0% | -6.8 pts | 0.9% | 439 |
| All other days | 77.8% | — | 0.8% | 1,859 |
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).