Memphis (MEM) to Detroit (DTW): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
When you fly MEM to DTW matters as much as anything else about the booking: the route swung from 97% on-time in February 2025 to just 65% in January 2026. Across the full period the route averages 86% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (88% vs 78%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 86%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 14 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.3%
- Flights/day
- 3.0
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 56m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 610 mi
Best airline from MEM to DTW
4 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Endeavor Airmost reliable | 92% | 4 min | 0.4% | 243 |
| Delta Air Lines | 89% | 13 min | 1.7% | 755 |
| Spirit Airlines | 85% | 7 min | 3.2% | 62 |
| SkyWest Airlines | 80% | 20 min | 1.1% | 760 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from MEM to DTW
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (91% on-time); avoid 5 p.m. departures (78%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 83% | 17 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 87% | 17 min |
| Wednesday | 87% | 12 min |
| Thursday | 86% | 9 min |
| Friday | 86% | 13 min |
| Saturday | 85% | 17 min |
| Sunday | 87% | 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 aircraft9%
- Airline operations64%
- National airspace system7%
- Weather20%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from MEM to DTW delayed?
- 14% of MEM–DTW flights arrived 15 or more minutes late (the US DOT definition of a delay) between 2024-06 and 2026-05. The average arrival delay across completed flights was 14 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from MEM to DTW?
- Endeavor Air has the best on-time record on this route at 92%, based on 243 flights. 4 airlines flew MEM–DTW frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from MEM to DTW?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (91% on-time), while departures around 5 p.m. have the worst (78%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from MEM to DTW?
- The scheduled MEM–DTW flight time averages 1h 56m over 610 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 14% of the time.
- How often are MEM to DTW flights cancelled?
- 1.3% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from MEM to DTW?
- January 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 65% of arrivals on time. The best was February 2025 at 97%. If your dates are flexible, that 32-point gap is worth planning around.
Explore related pages
More routes from MEM
Based on 1,878 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.