Richmond (RIC) to Detroit (DTW): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
The calendar drives reliability on RIC–DTW. July 2024 flights landed on schedule 95% of the time, but July 2025 dropped to 71% — a gap of 24 points. Across the full period the route averages 83% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (91% vs 72%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 83%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 16 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.3%
- Flights/day
- 2.0
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 53m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 455 mi
Best airline from RIC 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 | 92% | 9 min | 1.3% | 392 |
| Endeavor Air | 88% | 10 min | 3.3% | 210 |
| Republic Airways | 87% | 12 min | 0.8% | 118 |
| SkyWest Airlines | 78% | 22 min | 0.9% | 802 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from RIC to DTW
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (97% on-time); avoid 6 p.m. departures (69%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 79% | 20 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 86% | 15 min |
| Wednesday | 85% | 13 min |
| Thursday | 84% | 12 min |
| Friday | 84% | 13 min |
| Saturday | 84% | 14 min |
| Sunday | 81% | 25 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft11%
- Airline operations67%
- National airspace system9%
- Weather13%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from RIC to DTW delayed?
- 17% of RIC–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 16 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from RIC to DTW?
- Delta Air Lines has the best on-time record on this route at 92%, based on 392 flights. 4 airlines flew RIC–DTW frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from RIC to DTW?
- Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (97% 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 RIC to DTW?
- The scheduled RIC–DTW flight time averages 1h 53m over 455 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 17% of the time.
- How often are RIC 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 RIC to DTW?
- July 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 71% of arrivals on time. The best was July 2024 at 95%. If your dates are flexible, that 24-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 1,550 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.