Best Time to Fly DTW to ORD: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Detroit Metro Wayne County → Chicago O'Hare International
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
Over the last 12 months, 72.6% of Detroit (DTW) to Chicago (ORD) flights arrived on time (5,956 scheduled flights). That is 5.1 points below the national average of 77.6%.
American Airlines was the most punctual of the 6 airlines on the route at 90.2%, while SkyWest Airlines trailed at 68.9%.
September has been the best month (85% on time) and Friday the weakest day of the week (72%).
3.2% of flights were cancelled, versus 1.8% nationally.
DTW to ORD 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | 90.2% | 142 min | 12.8% | 47 |
| Republic Airways | 82.6% | 95 min | 5.5% | 439 |
| Envoy Air | 79.5% | 88 min | 3.4% | 902 |
| United Airlines | 72.0% | 69 min | 1.4% | 806 |
| Delta Air Lines | 71.7% | 80 min | 3.0% | 1,210 |
| SkyWest Airlines | 68.9% | 96 min | 3.4% | 2,530 |
| PSA Airlines | Limited data | 20 | ||
| Spirit Airlines | Limited data | 2 | ||
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly DTW to ORD
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 11,873 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2am–3am | Limited data | 1 | |
| 3am–4am | Limited data | 1 | |
| 5am–6am | 87.3% | 2.1% | 419 |
| 6am–7am | 87.4% | 2.4% | 1,162 |
| 7am–8am | 78.8% | 1.6% | 1,157 |
| 8am–9am | 79.7% | 1.4% | 945 |
| 9am–10am | 80.7% | 1.4% | 877 |
| 10am–11am | 86.2% | 0.5% | 554 |
| 11am–12pm | 87.3% | 2.3% | 743 |
| 12pm–1pm | 75.5% | 1.1% | 826 |
| 1pm–2pm | 73.0% | 2.2% | 488 |
| 2pm–3pm | 79.4% | 1.0% | 673 |
| 3pm–4pm | 71.4% | 2.4% | 453 |
| 4pm–5pm | 74.9% | 2.1% | 631 |
| 5pm–6pm | 63.2% | 3.0% | 855 |
| 6pm–7pm | 54.8% | 3.0% | 969 |
| 7pm–8pm | 62.3% | 4.4% | 297 |
| 8pm–9pm | 69.6% | 3.9% | 742 |
| 9pm–10pm | 65.7% | 9.1% | 77 |
| 10pm–11pm | Limited data | 3 | |
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 ORD
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) | 62.9% | -14.3 pts | 9.7% | 206 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 67.5% | -9.8 pts | 1.0% | 385 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 73.3% | -3.9 pts | 2.5% | 2,124 |
| All other days | 77.2% | — | 2.0% | 9,158 |
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).