Detroit (DTW) to Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
When you fly DTW to DFW matters as much as anything else about the booking: the route swung from 87% on-time in October 2024 to just 63% in July 2024. Across the full period the route averages 74% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (81% vs 65%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 74%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 20 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.9%
- Flights/day
- 9.6
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 60m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 986 mi
Best airline from DTW to DFW
4 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlinesmost reliable | 76% | 21 min | 2.3% | 3,629 |
| Spirit Airlines | 75% | 19 min | 1.3% | 786 |
| Delta Air Lines | 74% | 16 min | 1.5% | 2,912 |
| Frontier Airlines | 58% | 33 min | 2.8% | 463 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DTW to DFW
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (87% on-time); avoid 9 a.m. departures (60%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 74% | 25 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 79% | 14 min |
| Wednesday | 76% | 17 min |
| Thursday | 75% | 18 min |
| Friday | 73% | 22 min |
| Saturday | 75% | 19 min |
| Sunday | 70% | 22 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft38%
- Airline operations36%
- National airspace system24%
- Weather3%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DTW to DFW delayed?
- 26% of DTW–DFW 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 20 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from DTW to DFW?
- American Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 76%, based on 3,629 flights. 4 airlines flew DTW–DFW frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DTW to DFW?
- Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (87% on-time), while departures around 9 a.m. have the worst (60%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from DTW to DFW?
- The scheduled DTW–DFW flight time averages 2h 60m over 986 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 26% of the time.
- How often are DTW to DFW flights cancelled?
- 1.9% 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 DTW to DFW?
- July 2024 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 63% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 87%. If your dates are flexible, that 24-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 7,826 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.