Best Time to Fly DTW to IAH: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Detroit Metro Wayne County → George Bush Intercontinental/Houston
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
2,105 flights were scheduled from Detroit (DTW) to Houston (IAH) in the last 12 months, and 79.2% of those that flew arrived on time, 1.6 points above the US average of 77.6%.
Among 4 airlines, United Airlines led with 88.0% on time and Frontier Airlines was last with 66.0%.
Over 24 months, Tuesday was the most reliable day (81% on time) and June the worst month (68%).
The cancellation rate was 1.0% (US average 1.8%).
DTW to IAH 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlines | 88.0% | 53 min | 0.7% | 278 |
| Delta Air Lines | 79.3% | 56 min | 0.8% | 1,322 |
| Spirit Airlines | 77.9% | 81 min | 2.0% | 351 |
| Frontier Airlines | 66.0% | 71 min | 0.7% | 151 |
| SkyWest Airlines | Limited data | 3 | ||
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly DTW to IAH
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 4,539 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5am–6am | 80.7% | 0.0% | 57 |
| 6am–7am | 84.2% | 1.1% | 179 |
| 7am–8am | 86.4% | 0.0% | 66 |
| 8am–9am | 84.4% | 0.9% | 1,342 |
| 9am–10am | 94.8% | 0.0% | 77 |
| 10am–11am | 71.1% | 0.0% | 45 |
| 11am–12pm | Limited data | 19 | |
| 12pm–1pm | 82.6% | 0.7% | 549 |
| 1pm–2pm | 83.2% | 0.7% | 146 |
| 2pm–3pm | Limited data | 24 | |
| 3pm–4pm | 76.4% | 0.0% | 237 |
| 4pm–5pm | 70.1% | 0.8% | 785 |
| 5pm–6pm | 82.3% | 0.0% | 119 |
| 6pm–7pm | Limited data | 6 | |
| 7pm–8pm | 71.3% | 3.6% | 112 |
| 8pm–9pm | 73.5% | 1.3% | 540 |
| 9pm–10pm | 75.4% | 1.5% | 206 |
| 10pm–11pm | 76.7% | 0.0% | 30 |
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 IAH
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) | 66.3% | -14.1 pts | 1.0% | 99 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 72.4% | -8.1 pts | 2.2% | 178 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 75.8% | -4.6 pts | 1.4% | 778 |
| All other days | 80.5% | — | 0.7% | 3,484 |
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).