Detroit (DTW) to Philadelphia (PHL): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
The calendar drives reliability on DTW–PHL. September 2025 flights landed on schedule 87% of the time, but December 2025 dropped to 65% — a gap of 22 points. Across the full period the route averages 78% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (86% vs 73%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 78%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 19 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 2.8%
- Flights/day
- 8.1
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 40m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 453 mi
Best airline from DTW to PHL
7 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Linesmost reliable | 80% | 15 min | 1.6% | 3,140 |
| PSA Airlines | 79% | 22 min | 5.5% | 1,468 |
| Spirit Airlines | 78% | 16 min | 1.4% | 435 |
| American Airlines | 77% | 23 min | 3.4% | 731 |
| Republic Airways | 77% | 20 min | 4.9% | 162 |
| SkyWest Airlines | 67% | 26 min | 1.1% | 184 |
| Frontier Airlines | 59% | 38 min | 4.2% | 191 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DTW to PHL
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (90% on-time); avoid 10 p.m. departures (61%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 77% | 20 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 82% | 17 min |
| Wednesday | 82% | 15 min |
| Thursday | 78% | 21 min |
| Friday | 75% | 20 min |
| Saturday | 79% | 19 min |
| Sunday | 76% | 20 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft33%
- Airline operations39%
- National airspace system24%
- Weather4%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DTW to PHL delayed?
- 22% of DTW–PHL 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 19 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from DTW to PHL?
- Delta Air Lines has the best on-time record on this route at 80%, based on 3,140 flights. 7 airlines flew DTW–PHL frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DTW to PHL?
- Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (90% on-time), while departures around 10 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 PHL?
- The scheduled DTW–PHL flight time averages 1h 40m over 453 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 22% of the time.
- How often are DTW to PHL flights cancelled?
- 2.8% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-07 and 2026-07, slightly above the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from DTW to PHL?
- December 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 65% of arrivals on time. The best was September 2025 at 87%. If your dates are flexible, that 22-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 6,356 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.