Pittsburgh (PIT) to Detroit (DTW): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
The calendar drives reliability on PIT–DTW. October 2024 flights landed on schedule 95% of the time, but January 2026 dropped to 60% — a gap of 35 points. 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 75%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 82%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 17 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.0%
- Flights/day
- 2.8
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 12m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 201 mi
Best airline from PIT to DTW
4 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Linesmost reliable | 91% | 9 min | 1.3% | 463 |
| Endeavor Air | 84% | 17 min | 1.6% | 247 |
| Republic Airways | 81% | 15 min | 1.1% | 462 |
| SkyWest Airlines | 79% | 20 min | 0.7% | 1,218 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from PIT to DTW
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (89% on-time); avoid 6 p.m. departures (69%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 78% | 25 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 87% | 13 min |
| Wednesday | 81% | 16 min |
| Thursday | 82% | 15 min |
| Friday | 81% | 21 min |
| Saturday | 85% | 10 min |
| Sunday | 82% | 16 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft14%
- Airline operations51%
- National airspace system12%
- Weather23%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from PIT to DTW delayed?
- 18% of PIT–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 17 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from PIT to DTW?
- Delta Air Lines has the best on-time record on this route at 91%, based on 463 flights. 4 airlines flew PIT–DTW frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from PIT to DTW?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (89% on-time), while departures around 6 p.m. have the worst (69%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from PIT to DTW?
- The scheduled PIT–DTW flight time averages 1h 12m over 201 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 18% of the time.
- How often are PIT to DTW flights cancelled?
- 1% 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 PIT to DTW?
- January 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 60% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 95%. If your dates are flexible, that 35-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 2,390 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.