Detroit (DTW) to West Palm Beach/Palm Beach (PBI): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Detroit (DTW) to West Palm Beach/Palm Beach (PBI) effectively runs on two schedules. In July 2025, 100% of arrivals were on time; in December 2024 that fell to 64% — a 36-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 80% on-time against a national 78%.
- On-time
- 80%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 14 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.4%
- Flights/day
- 1.3
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 60m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 1,086 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DTW to PBI
Aim for departures around 8 a.m. (85% on-time); avoid 2 p.m. departures (69%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 81% | 15 min |
| Tuesday | 84% | 9 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 86% | 7 min |
| Thursday | 74% | 18 min |
| Friday | 80% | 15 min |
| Saturday | 79% | 17 min |
| Sunday | 73% | 19 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft7%
- Airline operations46%
- National airspace system46%
- Weather2%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DTW to PBI delayed?
- 20% of DTW–PBI 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.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DTW to PBI?
- Departures around 8 a.m. have the best record (85% on-time), while departures around 2 p.m. have the worst (69%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from DTW to PBI?
- The scheduled DTW–PBI flight time averages 2h 60m over 1,086 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 20% of the time.
- How often are DTW to PBI flights cancelled?
- 1.4% 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 PBI?
- December 2024 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 64% of arrivals on time. The best was July 2025 at 100%. If your dates are flexible, that 36-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 972 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.