Memphis (MEM) to Detroit (DTW): On-Time Performance
Data through July 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 85% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (88% vs 75%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 85%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 15 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.3%
- Flights/day
- 2.8
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 56m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 610 mi
Best airline from MEM to DTW
4 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Endeavor Airmost reliable | 93% | 4 min | 0.5% | 219 |
| Delta Air Lines | 89% | 13 min | 1.7% | 819 |
| Spirit Airlines | 85% | 7 min | 3.2% | 62 |
| SkyWest Airlines | 79% | 21 min | 1.0% | 823 |
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 (75%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 82% | 18 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 87% | 16 min |
| Wednesday | 86% | 14 min |
| Thursday | 85% | 10 min |
| Friday | 85% | 14 min |
| Saturday | 85% | 18 min |
| Sunday | 86% | 14 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft8%
- Airline operations66%
- National airspace system7%
- Weather18%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from MEM to DTW delayed?
- 15% of MEM–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 15 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from MEM to DTW?
- Endeavor Air has the best on-time record on this route at 93%, based on 219 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 (75%). 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 15% of the time.
- How often are MEM 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 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.
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Based on 1,981 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.