Orlando (MCO) to Detroit (DTW): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
When you fly MCO to DTW 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 75% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (88% vs 61%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 75%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 19 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.3%
- Flights/day
- 10.0
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 45m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 957 mi
Best airline from MCO to DTW
4 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frontier Airlinesmost reliable | 83% | 12 min | 1.3% | 876 |
| Spirit Airlines | 76% | 16 min | 1.4% | 2,183 |
| Delta Air Lines | 74% | 22 min | 1.2% | 4,427 |
| Southwest Airlines | 59% | 23 min | 1.1% | 180 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from MCO to DTW
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (93% on-time); avoid 7 p.m. departures (57%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 70% | 21 min |
| Tuesday | 80% | 16 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 83% | 10 min |
| Thursday | 78% | 18 min |
| Friday | 74% | 22 min |
| Saturday | 75% | 19 min |
| Sunday | 68% | 27 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 operations37%
- National airspace system22%
- Weather5%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from MCO to DTW delayed?
- 25% of MCO–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 19 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from MCO to DTW?
- Frontier Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 83%, based on 876 flights. 4 airlines flew MCO–DTW frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from MCO to DTW?
- Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (93% on-time), while departures around 7 p.m. have the worst (57%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from MCO to DTW?
- The scheduled MCO–DTW flight time averages 2h 45m over 957 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 25% of the time.
- How often are MCO to DTW flights cancelled?
- 1.3% 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 MCO to DTW?
- 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 32-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 7,666 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.