Santa Ana (SNA) to Detroit (DTW): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Santa Ana (SNA) to Detroit (DTW) is a thinner route than most in this dataset — 335 departures over the past year, roughly 6 a week — so treat these numbers as indicative rather than definitive. Of the flights that did operate, 69% arrived on time, noticeably below the national average of 78%.
- On-time
- 69%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 26 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.3%
- Flights/day
- 0.92
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 4h 19m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 1,960 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from SNA to DTW
Aim for departures around 12 p.m. (73% on-time); avoid 1 p.m. departures (66%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 67% | 36 min |
| Tuesday | 73% | 24 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 77% | 10 min |
| Thursday | 67% | 31 min |
| Friday | 70% | 29 min |
| Saturday | 67% | 22 min |
| Sunday | 64% | 24 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft40%
- Airline operations48%
- National airspace system12%
- Weather1%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from SNA to DTW delayed?
- 31% of SNA–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 26 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from SNA to DTW?
- Departures around 12 p.m. have the best record (73% on-time), while departures around 1 p.m. have the worst (66%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from SNA to DTW?
- The scheduled SNA–DTW flight time averages 4h 19m over 1,960 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 31% of the time.
- How often are SNA to DTW flights cancelled?
- 0.3% 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 SNA to DTW?
- March 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 48% of arrivals on time. The best was September 2025 at 87%. If your dates are flexible, that 39-point gap is worth planning around.
Explore related pages
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Based on 608 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.