Portland (PDX) to Detroit (DTW): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Portland (PDX) to Detroit (DTW) effectively runs on two schedules. In November 2024, 97% of arrivals were on time; in December 2025 that fell to 60% — a 37-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 81% on-time against a national 78%.
- On-time
- 81%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 17 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.0%
- Flights/day
- 1.0
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 4h 13m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 1,953 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from PDX to DTW
Departure time makes little difference on this route — on-time rates stay within a few points across the day.
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 85% | 8 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 87% | 21 min |
| Wednesday | 80% | 19 min |
| Thursday | 77% | 20 min |
| Friday | 83% | 12 min |
| Saturday | 80% | 17 min |
| Sunday | 75% | 21 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft53%
- Airline operations40%
- National airspace system7%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from PDX to DTW delayed?
- 19% of PDX–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 17 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from PDX to DTW?
- Departures around 11 a.m. have the best record (84% on-time), while departures around 11 p.m. have the worst (80%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from PDX to DTW?
- The scheduled PDX–DTW flight time averages 4h 13m over 1,953 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 19% of the time.
- How often are PDX 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 PDX to DTW?
- December 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 60% of arrivals on time. The best was November 2024 at 97%. If your dates are flexible, that 37-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 773 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.