Detroit (DTW) to New York (LGA): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Delays are only half the story on DTW–LGA: 3.4% 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
- 3.4%
- 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 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republic Airwaysmost reliable | 80% | 17 min | 4.4% | 2,064 |
| Spirit Airlines | 77% | 17 min | 4.2% | 2,066 |
| Delta Air Lines | 77% | 18 min | 2.6% | 4,125 |
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 (64%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 78% | 18 min |
| Tuesday | 79% | 16 min |
| Wednesday | 81% | 15 min |
| Thursday | 74% | 19 min |
| Friday | 75% | 20 min |
| Saturdaybest | 82% | 13 min |
| Sunday | 74% | 20 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?
- 23% of DTW–LGA 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 17 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from DTW to LGA?
- Republic Airways has the best on-time record on this route at 80%, based on 2,064 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 (64%). 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 23% of the time.
- How often are DTW to LGA flights cancelled?
- 3.4% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-07 and 2026-07 — 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.
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Based on 8,257 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.