Detroit (DTW) to Salt Lake City (SLC): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Detroit (DTW) to Salt Lake City (SLC) effectively runs on two schedules. In September 2024, 94% of arrivals were on time; in December 2025 that fell to 56% — a 39-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 82% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (92% vs 72%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 82%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 12 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.3%
- Flights/day
- 4.3
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 3h 60m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 1,481 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DTW to SLC
Aim for departures around 8 a.m. (92% on-time); avoid 7 p.m. departures (49%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 82% | 12 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 86% | 10 min |
| Wednesday | 84% | 9 min |
| Thursday | 81% | 10 min |
| Friday | 81% | 16 min |
| Saturday | 81% | 12 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 aircraft25%
- Airline operations57%
- National airspace system15%
- Weather4%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DTW to SLC delayed?
- 18% of DTW–SLC 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 12 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DTW to SLC?
- Departures around 8 a.m. have the best record (92% on-time), while departures around 7 p.m. have the worst (49%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from DTW to SLC?
- The scheduled DTW–SLC flight time averages 3h 60m over 1,481 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 18% of the time.
- How often are DTW to SLC flights cancelled?
- 0.3% 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 SLC?
- December 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 56% of arrivals on time. The best was September 2024 at 94%. If your dates are flexible, that 39-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 3,250 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.