Detroit (DTW) to Orlando (MCO): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
When you fly DTW to MCO matters as much as anything else about the booking: the route swung from 90% on-time in September 2024 to just 61% in January 2026. Across the full period the route averages 76% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (84% vs 69%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 76%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 18 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.1%
- Flights/day
- 10.0
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 43m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 957 mi
Best airline from DTW to MCO
4 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spirit Airlinesmost reliable | 82% | 13 min | 0.9% | 2,187 |
| Frontier Airlines | 74% | 27 min | 1.6% | 875 |
| Delta Air Lines | 74% | 19 min | 1.2% | 4,428 |
| Southwest Airlines | 70% | 20 min | 0.6% | 179 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DTW to MCO
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (92% on-time); avoid 4 p.m. departures (58%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 77% | 17 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 81% | 16 min |
| Wednesday | 80% | 13 min |
| Thursday | 78% | 16 min |
| Friday | 75% | 22 min |
| Saturday | 75% | 17 min |
| Sunday | 69% | 28 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft28%
- Airline operations44%
- National airspace system26%
- Weather2%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DTW to MCO delayed?
- 24% of DTW–MCO 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 18 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from DTW to MCO?
- Spirit Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 82%, based on 2,187 flights. 4 airlines flew DTW–MCO frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DTW to MCO?
- Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (92% on-time), while departures around 4 p.m. have the worst (58%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from DTW to MCO?
- The scheduled DTW–MCO flight time averages 2h 43m over 957 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 24% of the time.
- How often are DTW to MCO flights cancelled?
- 1.1% 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 MCO?
- January 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 61% of arrivals on time. The best was September 2024 at 90%. If your dates are flexible, that 29-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 7,669 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.