Detroit (DTW) to Washington (IAD): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
The calendar drives reliability on DTW–IAD. October 2024 flights landed on schedule 90% of the time, but January 2026 dropped to 52% — a gap of 38 points. Across the full period the route averages 76% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (83% vs 73%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 76%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 22 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.8%
- Flights/day
- 3.2
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 32m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 383 mi
Best airline from DTW to IAD
3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republic Airwaysmost reliable | 86% | 11 min | 1.2% | 343 |
| Delta Air Lines | 85% | 14 min | 1.0% | 195 |
| SkyWest Airlines | 72% | 26 min | 0.7% | 1,934 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DTW to IAD
Aim for departures around 8 a.m. (94% on-time); avoid 3 p.m. departures (66%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 73% | 25 min |
| Tuesday | 78% | 23 min |
| Wednesday | 78% | 21 min |
| Thursday | 75% | 22 min |
| Friday | 72% | 25 min |
| Saturdaybest | 81% | 20 min |
| Sunday | 74% | 21 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft4%
- Airline operations70%
- National airspace system15%
- Weather11%
- Security1%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DTW to IAD delayed?
- 24% of DTW–IAD 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 22 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from DTW to IAD?
- Republic Airways has the best on-time record on this route at 86%, based on 343 flights. 3 airlines flew DTW–IAD frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DTW to IAD?
- Departures around 8 a.m. have the best record (94% on-time), while departures around 3 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 DTW to IAD?
- The scheduled DTW–IAD flight time averages 1h 32m over 383 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 24% of the time.
- How often are DTW to IAD flights cancelled?
- 0.8% 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 DTW to IAD?
- January 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 52% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 90%. If your dates are flexible, that 38-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 2,544 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.