Phoenix (PHX) to Detroit (DTW): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
When you fly PHX to DTW matters as much as anything else about the booking: the route swung from 96% on-time in November 2024 to just 72% in March 2026. Across the full period the route averages 82% 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
- 82%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 15 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.8%
- Flights/day
- 6.6
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 3h 47m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 1,671 mi
Best airline from PHX to DTW
5 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Linesmost reliable | 84% | 14 min | 0.8% | 2,790 |
| Spirit Airlines | 82% | 21 min | 1.4% | 144 |
| Frontier Airlines | 81% | 15 min | 1.5% | 682 |
| American Airlines | 78% | 18 min | 0.5% | 1,317 |
| Southwest Airlines | 68% | 15 min | 0.0% | 72 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from PHX to DTW
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (97% on-time); avoid 6 p.m. departures (59%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 80% | 17 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 85% | 10 min |
| Wednesday | 83% | 12 min |
| Thursday | 85% | 13 min |
| Friday | 81% | 22 min |
| Saturday | 81% | 15 min |
| Sunday | 78% | 19 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft43%
- Airline operations44%
- National airspace system9%
- Weather3%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from PHX to DTW delayed?
- 18% of PHX–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 PHX to DTW?
- Delta Air Lines has the best on-time record on this route at 84%, based on 2,790 flights. 5 airlines flew PHX–DTW frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from PHX to DTW?
- Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (97% on-time), while departures around 6 p.m. have the worst (59%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from PHX to DTW?
- The scheduled PHX–DTW flight time averages 3h 47m over 1,671 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 18% of the time.
- How often are PHX to DTW flights cancelled?
- 0.8% 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 PHX to DTW?
- March 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 72% of arrivals on time. The best was November 2024 at 96%. If your dates are flexible, that 25-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 5,005 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.