Detroit (DTW) to New York (LGA): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Delays are only half the story on DTW–LGA: 3.2% of its scheduled flights were outright cancelled, well above the US norm, so a backup plan matters more here than on most routes. When flights do go, 78% land on time, below the national average of 78%.
- On-time
- 78%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 17 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 3.2%
- Flights/day
- 11
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 48m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 502 mi
Best airline from DTW to LGA
3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republic Airwaysmost reliable | 81% | 16 min | 4.0% | 1,969 |
| Spirit Airlines | 78% | 17 min | 4.1% | 2,156 |
| Delta Air Lines | 77% | 17 min | 2.2% | 3,944 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DTW to LGA
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (90% on-time); avoid 5 p.m. departures (65%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 78% | 18 min |
| Tuesday | 81% | 15 min |
| Wednesday | 81% | 15 min |
| Thursday | 74% | 19 min |
| Friday | 75% | 19 min |
| Saturdaybest | 83% | 13 min |
| Sunday | 75% | 19 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft19%
- Airline operations32%
- National airspace system46%
- Weather3%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DTW to LGA delayed?
- 22% of DTW–LGA 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 17 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from DTW to LGA?
- Republic Airways has the best on-time record on this route at 81%, based on 1,969 flights. 3 airlines flew DTW–LGA frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DTW to LGA?
- Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (90% on-time), while departures around 5 p.m. have the worst (65%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from DTW to LGA?
- The scheduled DTW–LGA flight time averages 1h 48m over 502 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 22% of the time.
- How often are DTW to LGA flights cancelled?
- 3.2% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05 — several times the typical US rate, so consider earlier departures or backup options.
- What is the worst month to fly from DTW to LGA?
- December 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 65% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 91%. If your dates are flexible, that 26-point gap is worth planning around.
Explore related pages
More routes from DTW
Based on 8,074 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.