Los Angeles (LAX) to Detroit (DTW): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
The calendar drives reliability on LAX–DTW. September 2024 flights landed on schedule 94% of the time, but July 2024 dropped to 74% — a gap of 20 points. Across the full period the route averages 83% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (88% vs 79%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 83%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 12 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.0%
- Flights/day
- 6.7
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 4h 24m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 1,979 mi
Best airline from LAX to DTW
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Linesmost reliable | 83% | 10 min | 0.8% | 4,187 |
| Spirit Airlines | 82% | 16 min | 1.7% | 1,319 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from LAX to DTW
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (92% on-time); avoid 12 a.m. departures (58%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 80% | 16 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 86% | 10 min |
| Wednesday | 84% | 9 min |
| Thursday | 81% | 14 min |
| Friday | 84% | 12 min |
| Saturday | 86% | 9 min |
| Sunday | 81% | 13 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft36%
- Airline operations44%
- National airspace system18%
- Weather2%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from LAX to DTW delayed?
- 17% of LAX–DTW 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.
- Which airline is most reliable from LAX to DTW?
- Delta Air Lines has the best on-time record on this route at 83%, based on 4,187 flights. 2 airlines flew LAX–DTW frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from LAX to DTW?
- Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (92% on-time), while departures around 12 a.m. have the worst (58%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from LAX to DTW?
- The scheduled LAX–DTW flight time averages 4h 24m over 1,979 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 17% of the time.
- How often are LAX to DTW flights cancelled?
- 1% 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 LAX to DTW?
- July 2024 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 74% of arrivals on time. The best was September 2024 at 94%. If your dates are flexible, that 20-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 5,509 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.