Detroit (DTW) to Minneapolis (MSP): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
The calendar drives reliability on DTW–MSP. November 2024 flights landed on schedule 94% of the time, but December 2025 dropped to 65% — a gap of 29 points. Across the full period the route averages 80% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (88% vs 69%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 80%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 14 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.5%
- Flights/day
- 5.2
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 55m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 528 mi
Best airline from DTW to MSP
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spirit Airlinesmost reliable | 80% | 12 min | 0.6% | 479 |
| Delta Air Lines | 80% | 14 min | 0.5% | 3,958 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DTW to MSP
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (98% on-time); avoid 1 p.m. departures (61%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 81% | 16 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 82% | 10 min |
| Wednesday | 82% | 12 min |
| Thursday | 78% | 14 min |
| Friday | 78% | 14 min |
| Saturday | 81% | 14 min |
| Sunday | 78% | 16 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft23%
- Airline operations54%
- National airspace system20%
- Weather4%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DTW to MSP delayed?
- 20% of DTW–MSP 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 14 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from DTW to MSP?
- Spirit Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 80%, based on 479 flights. 2 airlines flew DTW–MSP frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DTW to MSP?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (98% on-time), while departures around 1 p.m. have the worst (61%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from DTW to MSP?
- The scheduled DTW–MSP flight time averages 1h 55m over 528 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 20% of the time.
- How often are DTW to MSP flights cancelled?
- 0.5% 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 MSP?
- December 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 65% of arrivals on time. The best was November 2024 at 94%. If your dates are flexible, that 29-point gap is worth planning around.
Explore related pages
More routes from DTW
Other ways to fly to Minneapolis (MSP)
Related guides
Based on 4,437 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.