Boston (BOS) to Detroit (DTW): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
The calendar drives reliability on BOS–DTW. November 2024 flights landed on schedule 88% of the time, but July 2026 dropped to 63% — a gap of 25 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 63%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 78%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 17 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.8%
- Flights/day
- 7.1
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 16m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 632 mi
Best airline from BOS to DTW
3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Linesmost reliable | 80% | 15 min | 1.6% | 3,582 |
| Spirit Airlines | 75% | 20 min | 2.0% | 491 |
| JetBlue Airways | 73% | 20 min | 2.2% | 1,556 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from BOS to DTW
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (95% on-time); avoid 9 p.m. departures (54%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 76% | 19 min |
| Tuesday | 80% | 16 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 82% | 13 min |
| Thursday | 78% | 16 min |
| Friday | 75% | 17 min |
| Saturday | 81% | 15 min |
| Sunday | 72% | 23 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft44%
- Airline operations34%
- National airspace system20%
- Weather2%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from BOS to DTW delayed?
- 23% of BOS–DTW flights arrived 15 or more minutes late (the US DOT definition of a delay) between 2024-07 and 2026-07. The average arrival delay across completed flights was 17 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 3,582 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 (95% on-time), while departures around 9 p.m. have the worst (54%). 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 16m over 632 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 23% of the time.
- How often are BOS to DTW flights cancelled?
- 1.8% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-07 and 2026-07, slightly above the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from BOS to DTW?
- July 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 63% of arrivals on time. The best was November 2024 at 88%. If your dates are flexible, that 25-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 5,642 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.