78% of flights from Norfolk to Detroit arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is about the typical U.S. route. The 6 a.m. departures ran on time 89% of the time; the noon ones 69%. 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 ORF → DTW: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 45% of the time. About 1 in 10 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 34 three hours or more; 1.4% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early78%
- 15–30 min late6.5%
- 30–60 min late4.4%
- 1–2 hours late5.1%
- 2–3 hours late2.0%
- 3+ hours late3.0%
- Diverted0.0%
- Cancelled1.4%
Share of all 982 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 | 981 | 78% | 1.4% | −8 min | 10.1% | +107 min | Delta Air Lines 57%, Endeavor Air 27%, SkyWest 15% |
| Spirit Airlines | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | Spirit Airlines |
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 ORF). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
By airline and hour
| Departs | Delta Air Lines |
|---|---|
| 5 a.m. | 87% |
| 6 a.m. | 89% |
| noon | 69% |
| 1 p.m. | 76% |
| 5 p.m. | 74% |
Last flight of the day
On ORF → DTW, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 0.3% of the time, against 2.1% for its earlier flights, so here the last flight is actually the safer one. It arrived 3+ hours late 3.3% of the time (earlier flights: 2.8%). 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 | 5:06 p.m. | 0.3% | 3.3% | 2.1% | first flight 6:05 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 (90%). Worst: July (68%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 146 | 72% | 2.7% |
| Tuesday | 143 | 80% | 1.4% |
| Wednesday | 141 | 82% | 0.0% |
| Thursday | 140 | 80% | 0.0% |
| Friday | 143 | 75% | 1.4% |
| Saturday | 124 | 80% | 2.4% |
| Sunday | 145 | 76% | 2.1% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: airline 8 · weather 4 · air traffic/airport 2
Month by month
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2, 2025 | 3 | 0% | 1 |
| Mar 13, 2026 | 3 | 0% | 0 |
| Jun 14, 2026 | 3 | 0% | 1 |
| Dec 5, 2025 | 3 | 0% | 1 |
| Mar 17, 2026 | 3 | 0% | 1 |
Questions
How often are flights from ORF to DTW on time?
78% of 982 scheduled flights from Norfolk, VA to Detroit, MI arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 1.4% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly ORF to DTW?
Flights scheduled to leave at 6 a.m. were the most reliable (89% on time). The noon departures were the least (69%).
What month has the most delays from ORF to DTW?
July (68% on time). The best month is October (90%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from ORF to DTW more likely to be cancelled?
No, the opposite. Each airline's last ORF–DTW flight of the day was cancelled 0.3% of the time over the past year, against 2.1% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- DTW → ORF (return)
- Norfolk (ORF) delays by hour
- Flights into Detroit Metro (DTW)
- Delta Air Lines on-time record
- Spirit 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.