76% of flights from Detroit to New York arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is worse than the typical U.S. route. The 10 a.m. departures ran on time 83% of the time; the 8 p.m. ones 64%. Most reliable airline: JetBlue (79%). 13% of flights arrived more than an hour late or not at all.
How late?
The on-time rate treats a flight 20 minutes late the same as one 5 hours late. Here's the split for DTW → JFK: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 48% of the time. About 1 in 11 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 44 three hours or more; 4.1% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early76%
- 15–30 min late6.4%
- 30–60 min late4.7%
- 1–2 hours late4.8%
- 2–3 hours late1.9%
- 3+ hours late2.3%
- Diverted0.2%
- Cancelled4.1%
Share of all 1,887 scheduled flights, past 12 months, by arrival time against schedule.
By airline
| Airline | Flights | On time | Cancelled | Typical arrival | 1h+ late | Avg when late | Operated by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Lines | 1,442 | 75% | 3.4% | −9 min | 9.8% | +89 min | Delta Air Lines 54%, Endeavor Air 46% |
| JetBlue | 445 | 79% | 6.5% | −11 min | 6.1% | +72 min | JetBlue |
Airline = the name on the ticket. Regional flights (e.g. "Delta Connection") count under the ticketing airline, and the operator is listed.
Best time of day to fly
On-time rate by scheduled departure hour (local time at DTW). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
By airline and hour
| Departs | Delta Air Lines | JetBlue |
|---|---|---|
| 6 a.m. | — | 79% |
| 7 a.m. | 78% | — |
| 10 a.m. | 83% | — |
| 4 p.m. | 73% | — |
| 8 p.m. | 64% | — |
| 9 p.m. | 79% | — |
Last flight of the day
On DTW → JFK, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 4.0% of the time, against 3.2% for its earlier flights (1.3× as often). It arrived 3+ hours late 2.9% of the time (earlier flights: 2.3%). It matters more than the numbers suggest. Miss an earlier flight and there's another one that evening; miss the last one and you're usually waiting until morning.
| Airline | Last departure | Last: cancelled | Last: 3h+ late | Earlier: cancelled | Next morning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Lines | 8:10 p.m. | 4.4% | 3.0% | 3.1% | first flight 7:02 a.m. |
Last flight = the airline's last scheduled departure on this route that day, on days it flies the route at least twice; past 12 months. Times are typical scheduled times over the latest three months.
If you need to be in JFK tonight, book an earlier flight so there's a backup if it's cancelled.
By month
Each calendar month pooled over 2023–2026. Best: October (86%). Worst: July (69%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 276 | 71% | 7.6% |
| Tuesday | 267 | 78% | 4.5% |
| Wednesday | 267 | 79% | 1.5% |
| Thursday | 268 | 80% | 1.5% |
| Friday | 269 | 78% | 2.2% |
| Saturday | 265 | 73% | 4.2% |
| Sunday | 275 | 71% | 7.3% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: weather 32 · airline 31 · air traffic/airport 15
Month by month
Flight numbers on this route
Regular flights with at least 120 scheduled trips in the past year. Sorted by departure time.
| Flight | Departs | Flights | On time | Cancelled | Typical arrival | Operated by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B6 1419 | 6:00 a.m. | 246 | 74% | 9.3% | −12 min | JetBlue |
| DL 5216 | 7:02 a.m. | 348 | 77% | 2.6% | −8 min | Endeavor Air |
| DL 2934 | 4:18 p.m. | 319 | 72% | 3.8% | −12 min | Delta Air Lines |
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 9, 2025 | 6 | 0% | 1 |
| Jan 25, 2026 | 6 | 0% | 4 |
| Feb 24, 2026 | 5 | 0% | 2 |
| Jul 28, 2026 | 5 | 0% | 2 |
| Mar 16, 2026 | 5 | 0% | 3 |
Nearby airport alternatives
Other ways to make the same trip, using airports within 60 miles of Detroit or New York. None has been clearly more reliable than DTW → JFK.
| Route | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| DTW → JFK (this route) | 1,887 | 76% | 4.1% |
| DTW → EWR Detroit Metro to Newark | 3,700 | 73% | 5.5% |
| DTW → HPN Detroit Metro to Westchester | 689 | 72% | 2.3% |
| DTW → LGA Detroit Metro to LaGuardia | 3,866 | 70% | 5.4% |
Questions
How often are flights from DTW to JFK on time?
76% of 1,887 scheduled flights from Detroit, MI to New York, NY arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 4.1% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly DTW to JFK?
Flights scheduled to leave at 10 a.m. were the most reliable (83% on time). The 8 p.m. departures were the least (64%).
Which airline is most on time from DTW to JFK?
JetBlue: 79% of its 445 flights on the route arrived on time. Delta Air Lines: 75%.
What month has the most delays from DTW to JFK?
July (69% on time). The best month is October (86%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from DTW to JFK more likely to be cancelled?
Yes. Each airline's last DTW–JFK flight of the day was cancelled 4.0% of the time over the past year, against 3.2% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- JFK → DTW (return)
- Detroit Metro (DTW) delays by hour
- Flights into New York JFK (JFK)
- Delta Air Lines on-time record
- JetBlue on-time record
- Connecting off this flight? Check the risk
Domestic flights by the airlines that report to the U.S. DOT, plus their regional partners. "On time" means arriving less than 15 minutes after schedule; cancelled and diverted flights count as not on time. Past performance is a guide, not a forecast. Method.