Best Time to Fly ORD to DTW: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Chicago O'Hare International → Detroit Metro Wayne County
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
Over the last 12 months, 71.8% of Chicago (ORD) to Detroit (DTW) flights arrived on time (5,953 scheduled flights). That is 5.8 points below the national average of 77.6%.
Republic Airways was the most punctual of the 6 airlines on the route at 80.2%, while SkyWest Airlines trailed at 64.7%.
September has been the best month (84% on time) and Friday the weakest day of the week (71%).
3.2% of flights were cancelled, versus 1.8% nationally.
ORD 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 | 80.2% | 76 min | 4.3% | 438 |
| Envoy Air | 78.5% | 49 min | 3.2% | 902 |
| Delta Air Lines | 78.3% | 88 min | 3.1% | 1,210 |
| United Airlines | 72.6% | 79 min | 1.2% | 805 |
| American Airlines | 70.7% | 135 min | 12.8% | 47 |
| SkyWest Airlines | 64.7% | 90 min | 3.6% | 2,531 |
| PSA Airlines | Limited data | 20 | ||
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly ORD to DTW
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 11,879 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5am–6am | Limited data | 29 | |
| 6am–7am | 86.3% | 1.3% | 310 |
| 7am–8am | 89.0% | 1.4% | 1,401 |
| 8am–9am | 83.5% | 3.1% | 450 |
| 9am–10am | 79.2% | 1.7% | 470 |
| 10am–11am | 81.9% | 1.0% | 1,390 |
| 11am–12pm | 80.6% | 0.0% | 320 |
| 12pm–1pm | 78.1% | 1.4% | 283 |
| 1pm–2pm | 75.9% | 0.5% | 672 |
| 2pm–3pm | 74.7% | 1.6% | 1,292 |
| 3pm–4pm | 71.9% | 4.1% | 319 |
| 4pm–5pm | 65.7% | 2.6% | 308 |
| 5pm–6pm | 70.1% | 2.7% | 1,354 |
| 6pm–7pm | 65.6% | 4.1% | 629 |
| 7pm–8pm | 65.5% | 2.9% | 1,248 |
| 8pm–9pm | 71.2% | 0.7% | 406 |
| 9pm–10pm | 69.0% | 3.5% | 827 |
| 10pm–11pm | 77.1% | 8.9% | 168 |
| 11pm–12am | 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 ORD 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) | 65.6% | -11.8 pts | 12.6% | 206 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 65.8% | -11.5 pts | 1.3% | 385 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 71.2% | -6.1 pts | 2.6% | 2,124 |
| All other days | 77.3% | — | 1.9% | 9,164 |
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).