Charlotte (CLT) to Detroit (DTW): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
When you fly CLT to DTW matters as much as anything else about the booking: the route swung from 89% on-time in October 2024 to just 66% in July 2024. Across the full period the route averages 81% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (90% vs 70%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 81%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 15 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.3%
- Flights/day
- 9.6
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 50m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 500 mi
Best airline from CLT 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 | 87% | 11 min | 0.9% | 3,126 |
| American Airlines | 77% | 18 min | 1.5% | 4,420 |
| Spirit Airlines | 71% | 25 min | 2.5% | 119 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from CLT to DTW
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (94% on-time); avoid 8 p.m. departures (66%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 79% | 18 min |
| Tuesday | 85% | 12 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 86% | 10 min |
| Thursday | 82% | 13 min |
| Friday | 77% | 20 min |
| Saturday | 80% | 15 min |
| Sunday | 76% | 17 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft51%
- Airline operations32%
- National airspace system10%
- Weather7%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from CLT to DTW delayed?
- 19% of CLT–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 15 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from CLT to DTW?
- Delta Air Lines has the best on-time record on this route at 87%, based on 3,126 flights. 3 airlines flew CLT–DTW frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from CLT to DTW?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (94% on-time), while departures around 8 p.m. have the worst (66%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from CLT to DTW?
- The scheduled CLT–DTW flight time averages 1h 50m over 500 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 19% of the time.
- How often are CLT to DTW flights cancelled?
- 1.3% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-07 and 2026-07, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from CLT to DTW?
- July 2024 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 66% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 89%. If your dates are flexible, that 23-point gap is worth planning around.
Explore related pages
More routes from CLT
Other ways to fly to Detroit (DTW)
Related guides
Based on 7,744 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.