Detroit (DTW) to Minneapolis (MSP): On-Time Performance
Data through May 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 68%), 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
- 5.3
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 56m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 528 mi
Best airline from DTW to MSP
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Linesmost reliable | 80% | 14 min | 0.5% | 3,771 |
| Spirit Airlines | 80% | 13 min | 0.6% | 509 |
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 (56%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 79% | 17 min |
| Tuesday | 82% | 10 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 82% | 11 min |
| Thursday | 77% | 15 min |
| Friday | 79% | 14 min |
| Saturday | 80% | 14 min |
| Sunday | 79% | 15 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft22%
- Airline operations53%
- National airspace system23%
- Weather3%
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 2024-06 and 2026-05. The average arrival delay across completed flights was 14 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from DTW to MSP?
- Delta Air Lines has the best on-time record on this route at 80%, based on 3,771 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 (56%). 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 56m 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 2024-06 and 2026-05, 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.
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Based on 4,280 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.