Boston (BOS) to Detroit (DTW): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
The calendar drives reliability on BOS–DTW. November 2024 flights landed on schedule 88% of the time, but July 2025 dropped to 67% — a gap of 21 points. Across the full period the route averages 78% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (90% vs 64%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 78%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 16 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.5%
- Flights/day
- 7.2
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 17m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 632 mi
Best airline from BOS 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 | 80% | 15 min | 1.5% | 3,435 |
| JetBlue Airways | 75% | 17 min | 1.5% | 1,454 |
| Spirit Airlines | 74% | 21 min | 2.1% | 517 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from BOS to DTW
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (94% on-time); avoid 8 p.m. departures (57%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 76% | 19 min |
| Tuesday | 81% | 14 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 83% | 13 min |
| Thursday | 78% | 15 min |
| Friday | 75% | 16 min |
| Saturday | 81% | 15 min |
| Sunday | 74% | 20 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft42%
- Airline operations36%
- National airspace system21%
- Weather2%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from BOS to DTW delayed?
- 22% of BOS–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 16 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from BOS to DTW?
- Delta Air Lines has the best on-time record on this route at 80%, based on 3,435 flights. 3 airlines flew BOS–DTW frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from BOS to DTW?
- Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (94% on-time), while departures around 8 p.m. have the worst (57%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from BOS to DTW?
- The scheduled BOS–DTW flight time averages 2h 17m over 632 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 22% of the time.
- How often are BOS to DTW flights cancelled?
- 1.5% 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 BOS to DTW?
- July 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 67% of arrivals on time. The best was November 2024 at 88%. If your dates are flexible, that 21-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 5,418 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.