Nashville (BNA) to Detroit (DTW): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Nashville (BNA) to Detroit (DTW) effectively runs on two schedules. In August 2025, 91% of arrivals were on time; in December 2025 that fell to 69% — a 22-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 82% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (89% vs 73%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 82%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 13 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.9%
- Flights/day
- 6.6
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 40m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 456 mi
Best airline from BNA to DTW
3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Linesmost reliable | 87% | 13 min | 1.3% | 2,750 |
| Spirit Airlines | 80% | 17 min | 1.5% | 470 |
| Southwest Airlines | 75% | 13 min | 0.2% | 1,578 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from BNA to DTW
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (94% on-time); avoid 4 p.m. departures (59%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 81% | 15 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 87% | 13 min |
| Wednesday | 86% | 8 min |
| Thursday | 84% | 11 min |
| Friday | 80% | 15 min |
| Saturday | 82% | 13 min |
| Sunday | 78% | 18 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft47%
- Airline operations37%
- National airspace system12%
- Weather4%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from BNA to DTW delayed?
- 18% of BNA–DTW flights arrived 15 or more minutes late (the US DOT definition of a delay) between 2024-06 and 2026-05. The average arrival delay across completed flights was 13 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from BNA to DTW?
- Delta Air Lines has the best on-time record on this route at 87%, based on 2,750 flights. 3 airlines flew BNA–DTW frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from BNA to DTW?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (94% on-time), while departures around 4 p.m. have the worst (59%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from BNA to DTW?
- The scheduled BNA–DTW flight time averages 1h 40m over 456 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 18% of the time.
- How often are BNA to DTW flights cancelled?
- 0.9% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from BNA to DTW?
- December 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 69% of arrivals on time. The best was August 2025 at 91%. If your dates are flexible, that 22-point gap is worth planning around.
Explore related pages
More routes from BNA
Based on 4,824 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.