Detroit (DTW) to Norfolk (ORF): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
The calendar drives reliability on DTW–ORF. September 2024 flights landed on schedule 92% of the time, but January 2026 dropped to 56% — a gap of 36 points. Across the full period the route averages 76% on-time against a national 78%.
- On-time
- 76%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 18 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.9%
- Flights/day
- 2.0
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 47m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 529 mi
Best airline from DTW to ORF
4 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Endeavor Airmost reliable | 84% | 10 min | 0.0% | 263 |
| Spirit Airlines | 79% | 13 min | 1.6% | 62 |
| Delta Air Lines | 77% | 17 min | 1.1% | 547 |
| SkyWest Airlines | 72% | 23 min | 1.1% | 650 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DTW to ORF
Aim for departures around 10 p.m. (80% on-time); avoid 4 p.m. departures (74%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 71% | 18 min |
| Tuesday | 81% | 13 min |
| Wednesday | 81% | 19 min |
| Thursday | 75% | 31 min |
| Friday | 74% | 15 min |
| Saturdaybest | 82% | 15 min |
| Sunday | 73% | 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 aircraft12%
- Airline operations59%
- National airspace system19%
- Weather10%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DTW to ORF delayed?
- 24% of DTW–ORF 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 18 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from DTW to ORF?
- Endeavor Air has the best on-time record on this route at 84%, based on 263 flights. 4 airlines flew DTW–ORF frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DTW to ORF?
- Departures around 10 p.m. have the best record (80% on-time), while departures around 4 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 ORF?
- The scheduled DTW–ORF flight time averages 1h 47m over 529 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 24% of the time.
- How often are DTW to ORF flights cancelled?
- 0.9% 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 ORF?
- January 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 56% of arrivals on time. The best was September 2024 at 92%. If your dates are flexible, that 36-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 1,534 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.