Detroit (DTW) to Memphis (MEM): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
When you fly DTW to MEM matters as much as anything else about the booking: the route swung from 87% on-time in December 2024 to just 59% in December 2025. Across the full period the route averages 80% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (85% vs 76%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 80%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 16 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.2%
- Flights/day
- 2.8
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 2m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 610 mi
Best airline from DTW to MEM
5 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Endeavor Airmost reliable | 92% | 4 min | 0.5% | 217 |
| Republic Airways | 85% | 7 min | 0.0% | 60 |
| Spirit Airlines | 82% | 11 min | 3.2% | 63 |
| Delta Air Lines | 80% | 16 min | 1.6% | 821 |
| SkyWest Airlines | 76% | 20 min | 1.0% | 822 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DTW to MEM
Aim for departures around 8 a.m. (86% on-time); avoid 7 p.m. departures (74%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 79% | 19 min |
| Tuesday | 78% | 16 min |
| Wednesday | 80% | 16 min |
| Thursdaybest | 86% | 9 min |
| Friday | 77% | 19 min |
| Saturday | 80% | 14 min |
| Sunday | 78% | 18 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 operations62%
- National airspace system10%
- Weather10%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DTW to MEM delayed?
- 20% of DTW–MEM 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 16 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from DTW to MEM?
- Endeavor Air has the best on-time record on this route at 92%, based on 217 flights. 5 airlines flew DTW–MEM frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DTW to MEM?
- Departures around 8 a.m. have the best record (86% on-time), while departures around 7 p.m. have the worst (74%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from DTW to MEM?
- The scheduled DTW–MEM flight time averages 2h 2m over 610 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 20% of the time.
- How often are DTW to MEM flights cancelled?
- 1.2% 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 MEM?
- December 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 59% of arrivals on time. The best was December 2024 at 87%. If your dates are flexible, that 28-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 1,983 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.