Route on-time record
DTW to BUF: most on-time flights and the best time to fly
Detroit (Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport) to Buffalo (Buffalo Niagara International Airport). 1,006 nonstop flights in Jun 2025 to May 2026, 78% arrived within 15 minutes and 1.7% were cancelled. The most reliable flight number was SkyWest 4021 at 2:00 PM.
Flying on a specific date? We’ll adjust for the month, the weekday and the forecast.
DTW → BUF
Detroit to Buffalo: 1,006 nonstop flights a year
On time (12 months)
78%
Cancelled
1.7%
avg delay 23 min
Best time to leave
Noon to 3 PM
93% on time vs 75% 9 AM to noon
Most reliable airline
Delta
77% chance on time
Fares open on our travel partner (Aviasales). Pick the flight number you chose here.
Most reliable nonstop flights
Ranked by the chance the flight operates and arrives within 15 minutes of schedule, from Jun 2025 to May 2026 records.
#1 · SkyWest 4021 · sold as United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle or Alaska
2:00 PM → 3:12 PM1h 12m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as SkyWest 3987; its record covers all of them.
88%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 96%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 4 min
- Arrived on time 96% of the time (49 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 49 scheduled flights.
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Noon to 3 PM: 93% on time; 9 AM to noon: 75%).
- Departs inside DTW's trouble window: 64% of its 28 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
Limited track record · 49 flights
Find 2:00 PM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales#2 · SkyWest 3949 · sold as United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle or Alaska
7:01 AM → 8:16 AM1h 15m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-06.
81%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 90%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 3 min
- Arrived on time 90% of the time (21 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs outside DTW's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 64% of its 28 ground stops and delay programs started).
- Short track record (21 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 21 flights
Find 7:01 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales#3 · Delta 978
9:45 PM → 10:55 PM1h 09m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
80%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 82%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 14 min
- Arrived on time 82% of the time (92 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 92 scheduled flights.
- Departs outside DTW's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 64% of its 28 ground stops and delay programs started).
Moderate track record · 92 flights
Find Delta 978 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#4 · SkyWest 3969 · sold as United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle or Alaska
5:40 PM → 6:51 PM1h 11m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as SkyWest 3947; its record covers all of them.
79%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 83%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 18 min
- Arrived on time 83% of the time (52 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 52 scheduled flights.
- Departs inside DTW's trouble window: 64% of its 28 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
- Short track record (52 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 52 flights
Find 5:40 PM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales#5 · SkyWest 3998 · sold as United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle or Alaska
8:35 AM → 9:50 AM1h 15m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-09.
74%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 77%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 44 min
- Arrived on time 77% of the time (26 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs outside DTW's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 64% of its 28 ground stops and delay programs started).
- Short track record (26 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 26 flights
Find 8:35 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales#6 · Delta 2139
10:30 AM → 11:39 AM1h 09m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-06.
74%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 80%
- Cancelled
- 4.8%
- Avg arrival delay
- 16 min
- Arrived on time 80% of the time (20 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's least on-time window (9 AM to noon: 75% on time; Noon to 3 PM: 93%).
- Departs outside DTW's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 64% of its 28 ground stops and delay programs started).
- 52% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.
Limited track record · 20 flights
Find Delta 2139 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#7 · SkyWest 3982 · sold as United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle or Alaska
4:00 PM → 5:09 PM1h 09m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-12.
74%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 75%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 36 min
- Arrived on time 75% of the time (36 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 36 scheduled flights.
- Departs inside DTW's trouble window: 64% of its 28 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
- Short track record (36 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 36 flights
Find 4:00 PM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales#8 · SkyWest 3983 · sold as United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle or Alaska
10:30 AM → 11:44 AM1h 14m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-12.
64%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 60%
- Cancelled
- 2.8%
- Avg arrival delay
- 46 min
- Arrived on time 60% of the time (35 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's least on-time window (9 AM to noon: 75% on time; Noon to 3 PM: 93%).
- Departs outside DTW's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 64% of its 28 ground stops and delay programs started).
- Short track record (35 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 35 flights
Find 10:30 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales
Airlines on this route
Season-adjusted chance of operating and arriving on time.
- Delta Air Lines77%
453 flights · 77% on time as flown · 1.6% cancel
- SkyWest Airlines (sold as United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle or Alaska)75%
546 flights · 77% on time as flown · 1.7% cancel
On time by departure time
All airlines, scheduled local departure, Jun 2025 to May 2026.
- Before 9 AM82%
147 flights · avg delay 20 min
- 9 AM to noon75%
174 flights · avg delay 23 min
- Noon to 3 PM93%
68 flights · avg delay 6 min
- 3 to 6 PM76%
254 flights · avg delay 23 min
- After 9 PM75%
363 flights · avg delay 27 min
Best day: Wednesday (82%). Worst: Friday (75%).
On time by month
All airlines, Jun 2023 to May 2026. Several years per month, so one stormy season doesn't define a month. Travel-month estimates use this seasonal pattern.
What delays this route
- Airline (crew, maintenance, boarding)62%
- Severe weather19%
- Air traffic control and airport volume10%
- Late-arriving aircraft9%
Share of delay minutes by the cause airlines report to the US DOT.
Historical odds, not a guarantee. Built from the US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics on-time reports (Jun 2025 to May 2026), FAA ground stop and delay program advisories, and 20 years of airport weather observations. Covers US airlines that report to the DOT; schedules are flights operated recently, so confirm times when you book. ATIS Alerts is not affiliated with any airline. Fares are what Aviasales travelers saw in recent searches (USD, one way, 1 adult), not live quotes; the partner site shows the current price. Fare links go to our travel partner and may earn us a commission at no cost to you. Affiliate disclosure
DTW to BUF questions
- What time of day is best to fly DTW to BUF?
- Noon to 3 PM: 93% of flights arrived on time, against 75% for departures 9 AM to noon.
- Which airline is most on time from DTW to BUF?
- Delta, with a season-adjusted 77% chance of operating and arriving on time over 453 flights. The adjustment compares each airline with what the route did in the months it flew, so a carrier that skipped a stormy month gets no free credit.
- What is the worst month for delays on DTW to BUF?
- January (64% on time); the best was November (87%), averaged over Jun 2023 to May 2026.
- Is this a prediction for my flight?
- No. These are historical odds from the US DOT on-time reports, FAA advisories and airport weather records. Check your flight status and the FAA delay board on the day you fly.
More routes from DTW
- BUF to DTW (return)
- DTW to ORD 72%
- DTW to ATL 78%
- DTW to LGA 75%
- DTW to MCO 75%
- DTW to EWR 75%
- DTW to CLT 84%
- DTW to DFW 76%
- DTW to DEN 79%
- DTW to DCA 68%
- DTW to PHL 79%
- DTW to LAS 77%
- DTW to FLL 72%
Live status: FAA delays and ground stops