Best Time to Fly EWR to DTW: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Newark Liberty International → Detroit Metro Wayne County
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
3,723 flights were scheduled from Newark (EWR) to Detroit (DTW) in the last 12 months, and 79.9% of those that flew arrived on time, 2.3 points above the US average of 77.6%.
Among 4 airlines, Republic Airways led with 84.1% on time and Spirit Airlines was last with 67.7%.
Over 24 months, Tuesday was the most reliable day (84% on time) and December the worst month (68%).
The cancellation rate was 4.9% (US average 1.8%).
EWR 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republic Airways | 84.1% | 72 min | 5.7% | 1,538 |
| Delta Air Lines | 79.7% | 105 min | 3.4% | 1,618 |
| United Airlines | 78.9% | 50 min | 1.4% | 72 |
| Spirit Airlines | 67.7% | 73 min | 7.9% | 495 |
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly EWR to DTW
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 6,782 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5am–6am | 85.1% | 9.8% | 82 |
| 6am–7am | 89.1% | 2.4% | 944 |
| 7am–8am | 94.6% | 1.6% | 188 |
| 8am–9am | 88.7% | 5.3% | 187 |
| 9am–10am | 84.8% | 1.6% | 909 |
| 10am–11am | 83.2% | 0.9% | 108 |
| 11am–12pm | 92.8% | 3.9% | 231 |
| 12pm–1pm | 65.2% | 1.8% | 164 |
| 1pm–2pm | 83.6% | 2.2% | 825 |
| 2pm–3pm | 78.8% | 5.5% | 254 |
| 3pm–4pm | 85.8% | 2.5% | 202 |
| 4pm–5pm | 72.9% | 4.9% | 791 |
| 5pm–6pm | 70.7% | 5.2% | 521 |
| 6pm–7pm | 75.5% | 8.2% | 231 |
| 7pm–8pm | 71.8% | 1.9% | 105 |
| 8pm–9pm | 57.1% | 4.0% | 403 |
| 9pm–10pm | 68.0% | 10.0% | 462 |
| 10pm–11pm | 50.6% | 9.7% | 175 |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on EWR 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) | 72.8% | -7.9 pts | 0.8% | 126 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 63.5% | -17.1 pts | 5.2% | 191 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 73.3% | -7.4 pts | 8.3% | 1,263 |
| All other days | 80.7% | — | 3.1% | 5,202 |
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).