Detroit (DTW) to Phoenix (PHX): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
When you fly DTW to PHX matters as much as anything else about the booking: the route swung from 89% on-time in October 2024 to just 58% in December 2025. Across the full period the route averages 78% on-time against a national 78%.
- On-time
- 78%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 19 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.8%
- Flights/day
- 6.6
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 4h 20m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 1,671 mi
Best airline from DTW to PHX
5 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spirit Airlinesmost reliable | 84% | 10 min | 1.4% | 143 |
| American Airlines | 82% | 21 min | 0.7% | 1,316 |
| Southwest Airlines | 80% | 9 min | 1.4% | 72 |
| Frontier Airlines | 77% | 26 min | 1.6% | 679 |
| Delta Air Lines | 76% | 17 min | 0.6% | 2,792 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DTW to PHX
Aim for departures around 1 p.m. (91% on-time); avoid 7 p.m. departures (67%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 77% | 19 min |
| Tuesday | 80% | 16 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 81% | 16 min |
| Thursday | 78% | 16 min |
| Friday | 78% | 21 min |
| Saturday | 79% | 23 min |
| Sunday | 75% | 23 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 operations52%
- National airspace system14%
- Weather2%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DTW to PHX delayed?
- 22% of DTW–PHX 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 PHX?
- Spirit Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 84%, based on 143 flights. 5 airlines flew DTW–PHX frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DTW to PHX?
- Departures around 1 p.m. have the best record (91% on-time), while departures around 7 p.m. have the worst (67%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from DTW to PHX?
- The scheduled DTW–PHX flight time averages 4h 20m over 1,671 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 22% of the time.
- How often are DTW to PHX flights cancelled?
- 0.8% 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 PHX?
- December 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 58% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 89%. If your dates are flexible, that 31-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 5,002 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.