FlightRecord

Detroit (DTW) to Charleston (CHS): On-Time Performance

Data through May 2026

Detroit (DTW) to Charleston (CHS) effectively runs on two schedules. In November 2024, 94% of arrivals were on time; in January 2026 that fell to 57% — a 37-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 78% on-time against a national 78%.

On-time
78%
arrived <15 min late
Avg delay
18 min
completed flights
Cancelled
1.6%
Flights/day
2.0
last 12 months
Duration
2h 8m
scheduled
Distance
667 mi

Best airline from DTW to CHS

4 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.

AirlineOn-timeAvg delayCancelledFlights
Spirit Airlinesmost reliable92%10 min6.4%78
Endeavor Air88%17 min1.8%271
Delta Air Lines87%9 min1.6%314
SkyWest Airlines71%22 min1.1%808

Monthly on-time trend

Monthly on-time percentage for DTW to CHS flights50%75%100%June 2024: 82% on-time (72 flights)82Jun 2024July 2024: 72% on-time (102 flights)72August 2024: 76% on-time (97 flights)76September 2024: 79% on-time (89 flights)79Sep 2024October 2024: 93% on-time (87 flights)93November 2024: 94% on-time (64 flights)94December 2024: 80% on-time (59 flights)80Dec 2024January 2025: 59% on-time (35 flights)59February 2025: 71% on-time (28 flights)71March 2025: 81% on-time (31 flights)81Mar 2025April 2025: 90% on-time (39 flights)90May 2025: 85% on-time (61 flights)85June 2025: 74% on-time (95 flights)74Jun 2025July 2025: 70% on-time (104 flights)70August 2025: 81% on-time (111 flights)81September 2025: 82% on-time (90 flights)82Sep 2025October 2025: 86% on-time (65 flights)86November 2025: 94% on-time (32 flights)94December 2025: 78% on-time (38 flights)78Dec 2025January 2026: 57% on-time (47 flights)57February 2026: 58% on-time (33 flights)58March 2026: 67% on-time (56 flights)67Mar 2026April 2026: 75% on-time (28 flights)75May 2026: 79% on-time (26 flights)79

Best time to fly from DTW to CHS

Aim for departures around 7 a.m. (94% on-time); avoid 3 p.m. departures (69%).

On-time percentage by scheduled departure hour, DTW to CHS7 a.m.: 94% on-time (31 flights)78 a.m.: 83% on-time (305 flights)810 a.m.: 84% on-time (364 flights)102 p.m.: 71% on-time (210 flights)143 p.m.: 69% on-time (245 flights)154 p.m.: 78% on-time (23 flights)167 p.m.: 71% on-time (136 flights)199 p.m.: 83% on-time (143 flights)21scheduled departure hour

By day of week

DayOn-timeAvg delay
Monday77%20 min
Tuesday78%15 min
Wednesdaybest83%13 min
Thursday79%14 min
Friday72%24 min
Saturday82%12 min
Sunday78%24 min

What causes delays on this route

Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.

  • Late-arriving aircraft6%
  • Airline operations65%
  • National airspace system13%
  • Weather17%

Frequently asked questions

How often are flights from DTW to CHS delayed?
22% of DTW–CHS 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 18 minutes.
Which airline is most reliable from DTW to CHS?
Spirit Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 92%, based on 78 flights. 4 airlines flew DTW–CHS frequently enough to compare in this period.
What is the best time of day to fly from DTW to CHS?
Departures around 7 a.m. have the best record (94% on-time), while departures around 3 p.m. have the worst (69%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
How long is the flight from DTW to CHS?
The scheduled DTW–CHS flight time averages 2h 8m over 667 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 22% of the time.
How often are DTW to CHS flights cancelled?
1.6% 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 DTW to CHS?
January 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 57% of arrivals on time. The best was November 2024 at 94%. If your dates are flexible, that 37-point gap is worth planning around.

Based on 1,489 flights, 2024-062026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.