Route on-time record
DTW to IAD: most on-time flights and the best time to fly
Detroit (Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport) to Dulles (Washington Dulles International Airport). 1,111 nonstop flights in Jun 2025 to May 2026, 73% arrived within 15 minutes and 1.2% were cancelled. The most reliable flight number was SkyWest 3849 at 8:45 AM.
Flying on a specific date? We’ll adjust for the month, the weekday and the forecast.
DTW → IAD
Detroit to Dulles: 1,111 nonstop flights a year
On time (12 months)
73%
Cancelled
1.2%
avg delay 25 min
Best time to leave
Before 9 AM
91% on time vs 65% after 9 PM
Most reliable airline
Republic
81% chance on time
Lowest nonstop fare seen in the next two months: $233 (United 1796 on 2026-10-23). 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 3849 · sold as United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle or Alaska
8:45 AM → 10:22 AM1h 37m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as SkyWest 3878; its record covers all of them.
87%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 98%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 2 min
- Arrived on time 98% 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 (Before 9 AM: 91% on time; After 9 PM: 65%).
- Departs outside DTW's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 64% of its 28 ground stops and delay programs started).
Limited track record · 49 flights
Find 8:45 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales#2 · United 1159
7:47 PM → 9:18 PM1h 31m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-27.
82%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 94%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 4 min
- Arrived on time 94% of the time (18 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 (18 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 18 flights
Find United 1159 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#3 · Republic 3518 · sold as American Eagle, Delta Connection or United Express
7:36 PM → 9:13 PM1h 37m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-03-28.
81%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 74%
- Cancelled
- 4.2%
- Avg arrival delay
- 11 min
- Arrived on time 74% of the time (23 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).
- 55% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.
- Short track record (23 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 23 flights
Find 7:36 PM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales#4 · Republic 3620 · sold as American Eagle, Delta Connection or United Express
5:45 AM → 7:26 AM1h 41m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-03-28.
80%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 76%
- Cancelled
- 5.6%
- Avg arrival delay
- 14 min
- Arrived on time 76% of the time (17 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 91% on time; After 9 PM: 65%).
- 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 (17 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 17 flights
Find 5:45 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales#5 · Delta 955
2:49 PM → 4:15 PM1h 26m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-06.
80%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 90%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 7 min
- Arrived on time 90% of the time (21 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs inside DTW's trouble window: 64% of its 28 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
- Lands inside IAD's trouble window: 75% of its 63 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
- Short track record (21 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 21 flights
Find Delta 955 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#6 · Delta 1787
3:05 PM → 4:31 PM1h 26m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
79%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 92%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 18 min
- Arrived on time 92% of the time (25 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs inside DTW's trouble window: 64% of its 28 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
- Lands inside IAD's trouble window: 75% of its 63 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
- Short track record (25 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 25 flights
Find Delta 1787 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#7 · Republic 3500 · sold as American Eagle, Delta Connection or United Express
10:13 AM → 11:50 AM1h 37m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
79%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 82%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 6 min
- Arrived on time 82% of the time (11 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 (11 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 11 flights
Find 10:13 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales#8 · Republic 3404 · sold as American Eagle, Delta Connection or United Express
7:45 PM → 9:21 PM1h 36m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-19.
75%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 70%
- Cancelled
- 4.8%
- Avg arrival delay
- 24 min
- Arrived on time 70% of the time (20 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 (20 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 20 flights
Find 7:45 PM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales#9 · United 1265
10:00 AM → 11:29 AM1h 29m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-20.
74%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 80%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 31 min
- Arrived on time 80% of the time (20 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 (20 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 20 flights
Find United 1265 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#10 · SkyWest 3910 · sold as United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle or Alaska
10:00 AM → 11:32 AM1h 32m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-06.
69%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 75%
- Cancelled
- 1.7%
- Avg arrival delay
- 27 min
- Arrived on time 75% of the time (59 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 (59 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 59 flights
Find 10:00 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales
Airlines on this route
Season-adjusted chance of operating and arriving on time.
- Republic Airways (sold as American Eagle, Delta Connection or United Express)81%
223 flights · 83% on time as flown · 1.3% cancel
- Delta Air Lines79%
46 flights · 91% on time as flown · 0.9% cancel
- United Airlines76%
39 flights · 87% on time as flown · 0.9% cancel
- SkyWest Airlines (sold as United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle or Alaska)68%
803 flights · 69% on time as flown · 1.2% cancel
On time by departure time
All airlines, scheduled local departure, Jun 2025 to May 2026.
- Before 9 AM91%
214 flights · avg delay 7 min
- 9 AM to noon71%
134 flights · avg delay 32 min
- Noon to 3 PM70%
185 flights · avg delay 24 min
- 3 to 6 PM66%
184 flights · avg delay 35 min
- 6 to 9 PM79%
116 flights · avg delay 12 min
- After 9 PM65%
278 flights · avg delay 34 min
Best day: Tuesday (81%). Worst: Sunday (74%).
Smarter routing
Nearby airports that run more on time
DTW → BWI 80% chance on time
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport · 2,273 flights a year · 45 mi from your airports · yours: 72%
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)70%
- Air traffic control and airport volume15%
- Severe weather9%
- Late-arriving aircraft4%
- Security1%
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 IAD questions
- What time of day is best to fly DTW to IAD?
- Before 9 AM: 91% of flights arrived on time, against 65% for departures after 9 PM. Later flights inherit delays from earlier ones, so the first departures of the day usually run best.
- Which airline is most on time from DTW to IAD?
- Republic, with a season-adjusted 81% chance of operating and arriving on time over 223 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 IAD?
- January (62% on time); the best was October (90%), 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
- IAD 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