77% of flights from Washington to Detroit arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is about the typical U.S. route. The 11 a.m. departures ran on time 85% of the time; the 5 p.m. ones 70%. Most reliable airline: Delta Air Lines (77%). 12% 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 IAD → DTW: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 40% of the time. About 1 in 10 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 31 three hours or more; 1.5% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early77%
- 15–30 min late5.5%
- 30–60 min late5.3%
- 1–2 hours late5.4%
- 2–3 hours late1.8%
- 3+ hours late3.2%
- Diverted0.1%
- Cancelled1.5%
Share of all 2,199 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 | 1,129 | 77% | 1.6% | −11 min | 11.2% | +120 min | SkyWest 61%, Endeavor Air 21%, Delta Air Lines 18% |
| United Airlines | 1,070 | 77% | 1.5% | −5 min | 9.6% | +90 min | Mesa Airlines 67%, Republic Airways 24%, GoJet 4%, United Airlines 4%, CommutAir 2% |
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 IAD). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
By airline and hour
| Departs | Delta Air Lines | United Airlines |
|---|---|---|
| 6 a.m. | 81% | — |
| 8 a.m. | — | 85% |
| 11 a.m. | 85% | — |
| noon | 68% | 80% |
| 5 p.m. | 67% | 72% |
| 10 p.m. | — | 72% |
Last flight of the day
On IAD → DTW, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 1.8% of the time, against 1.4% for its earlier flights, about the same. It arrived 3+ hours late 3.6% of the time (earlier flights: 3.1%). 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 | 5:26 p.m. | 1.6% | 4.7% | 1.6% | first flight 6:05 a.m. |
| United Airlines | 10:10 p.m. | 1.9% | 2.5% | 1.3% | first flight 8:35 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.
By month
Each calendar month pooled over 2023–2026. Best: October (91%). Worst: July (69%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 323 | 75% | 2.5% |
| Tuesday | 289 | 79% | 2.1% |
| Wednesday | 301 | 76% | 0.7% |
| Thursday | 322 | 84% | 0.3% |
| Friday | 323 | 77% | 1.2% |
| Saturday | 318 | 78% | 0.3% |
| Sunday | 323 | 71% | 3.7% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: weather 20 · air traffic/airport 8 · airline 6
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UA 6137 | 8:35 a.m. | 269 | 87% | 0.4% | −9 min | Mesa Airlines |
| UA 6246 | 5:22 p.m. | 156 | 69% | 4.5% | +1 min | Mesa Airlines |
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 29, 2025 | 6 | 0% | 0 |
| Jan 25, 2026 | 5 | 0% | 5 |
| Jul 6, 2026 | 7 | 14% | 0 |
| Dec 15, 2025 | 6 | 17% | 1 |
| Dec 14, 2025 | 6 | 17% | 0 |
Nearby airport alternatives
Other ways to make the same trip, using airports within 60 miles of Washington or Detroit. None has been clearly more reliable than IAD → DTW.
| Route | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| IAD → DTW (this route) | 2,199 | 77% | 1.6% |
| BWI → DTW Baltimore/Washington to Detroit Metro | 2,233 | 79% | 2.1% |
| DCA → DTW Washington Reagan National to Detroit Metro | 2,973 | 72% | 4.0% |
Questions
How often are flights from IAD to DTW on time?
77% of 2,199 scheduled flights from Washington, DC to Detroit, MI arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 1.6% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly IAD to DTW?
Flights scheduled to leave at 11 a.m. were the most reliable (85% on time). The 5 p.m. departures were the least (70%).
Which airline is most on time from IAD to DTW?
Delta Air Lines: 77% of its 1,129 flights on the route arrived on time. United Airlines: 77%.
What month has the most delays from IAD to DTW?
July (69% on time). The best month is October (91%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from IAD to DTW more likely to be cancelled?
Not much. Each airline's last IAD–DTW flight of the day was cancelled 1.8% of the time over the past year, against 1.4% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- DTW → IAD (return)
- Washington Dulles (IAD) delays by hour
- Flights into Detroit Metro (DTW)
- Delta Air Lines on-time record
- United Airlines 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.