Route on-time record

IAH to DTW: most on-time flights and the best time to fly

Houston (George Bush Intercontinental Airport) to Detroit (Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport). 2,144 nonstop flights in Jun 2025 to May 2026, 79% arrived within 15 minutes and 1.3% were cancelled. The most reliable flight number was Delta 1389 at 5:20 AM.

Flying on a specific date? We’ll adjust for the month, the weekday and the forecast.

IAH → DTW

Houston to Detroit: 2,144 nonstop flights a year

On time (12 months)

79%

Cancelled

1.3%

avg delay 17 min

Best time to leave

Before 9 AM

87% on time vs 69% 6 to 9 PM

Most reliable airline

Delta

81% chance on time

Check IAH to DTW fares

Lowest nonstop fare seen in the next two months: $90 (Frontier 1958 on 2026-10-29). 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 · Delta 1389
5:20 AM → 9:05 AM2h 43m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
88%
chance on time
On time (history)
90%
Cancelled
1.6%
Avg arrival delay
11 min
- Arrived on time 90% of the time (359 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 87% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 69%).
- Departs outside IAH's trouble window (noon to 6 PM, when 60% of its 92 ground stops and delay programs started).
Strong track record · 359 flights
Find Delta 1389 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#2 · Delta 1692
3:18 PM → 7:08 PM2h 50m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-12.
84%
chance on time
On time (history)
81%
Cancelled
0.0%
Avg arrival delay
25 min
- Arrived on time 81% of the time (36 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 36 scheduled flights.
- Departs inside IAH's trouble window: 60% of its 92 ground stops and delay programs started between noon and 6 PM.
- 64% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.
Limited track record · 36 flights
Find Delta 1692 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#3 · Delta 1307
3:25 PM → 7:14 PM2h 49m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as Delta 1567; its record covers all of them.
83%
chance on time
On time (history)
82%
Cancelled
0.0%
Avg arrival delay
14 min
- Arrived on time 82% of the time (49 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 49 scheduled flights.
- Departs inside IAH's trouble window: 60% of its 92 ground stops and delay programs started between noon and 6 PM.
- Short track record (49 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 49 flights
Find Delta 1307 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#4 · Delta 1043
11:34 AM → 3:20 PM2h 46m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as Delta 1632, 1699; its record covers all of them.
82%
chance on time
On time (history)
82%
Cancelled
0.4%
Avg arrival delay
14 min
- Arrived on time 82% of the time (554 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs outside IAH's trouble window (noon to 6 PM, when 60% of its 92 ground stops and delay programs started).
- Lands inside DTW's trouble window: 64% of its 28 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
Strong track record · 554 flights
Find Delta 1043 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#5 · Spirit 2020
8:26 AM → 12:08 PM2h 42m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-14.
71%
chance on time
On time (history)
70%
Cancelled
10.2%
Avg arrival delay
25 min
- Arrived on time 70% of the time (53 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Cancelled 10.2% of the time (6 of 59).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 87% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 69%).
- Departs outside IAH's trouble window (noon to 6 PM, when 60% of its 92 ground stops and delay programs started).
Limited track record · 53 flights
Find Spirit 2020 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#6 · Frontier 1958
2:51 PM → 6:43 PM2h 52m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
70%
chance on time
On time (history)
69%
Cancelled
1.1%
Avg arrival delay
19 min
- Arrived on time 69% of the time (89 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs inside IAH's trouble window: 60% of its 92 ground stops and delay programs started between noon and 6 PM.
- Lands inside DTW's trouble window: 64% of its 28 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
Moderate track record · 89 flights
Find Frontier 1958 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#7 · United 685
8:03 PM → 11:57 PM2h 54m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
67%
chance on time
On time (history)
69%
Cancelled
0.4%
Avg arrival delay
19 min
- Arrived on time 69% of the time (223 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's least on-time window (6 to 9 PM: 69% on time; Before 9 AM: 87%).
- Departs outside IAH's trouble window (noon to 6 PM, when 60% of its 92 ground stops and delay programs started).
Strong track record · 223 flights
Find United 685 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#8 · Delta 1718
7:22 PM → 11:11 PM2h 49m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as Delta 1529; its record covers all of them.
67%
chance on time
On time (history)
65%
Cancelled
2.4%
Avg arrival delay
39 min
- Arrived on time 65% of the time (165 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's least on-time window (6 to 9 PM: 69% on time; Before 9 AM: 87%).
- Departs outside IAH's trouble window (noon to 6 PM, when 60% of its 92 ground stops and delay programs started).
Moderate track record · 165 flights
Find Delta 1718 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#9 · Spirit 255
4:29 PM → 8:13 PM2h 44m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-01.
67%
chance on time
On time (history)
53%
Cancelled
0.0%
Avg arrival delay
27 min
- Arrived on time 53% of the time (15 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs inside IAH's trouble window: 60% of its 92 ground stops and delay programs started between noon and 6 PM.
- Short track record (15 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 15 flights
Find Spirit 255 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#10 · Spirit 2024
8:11 PM → 11:57 PM2h 46m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-03-11.
66%
chance on time
On time (history)
67%
Cancelled
3.6%
Avg arrival delay
91 min
- Arrived on time 67% of the time (27 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's least on-time window (6 to 9 PM: 69% on time; Before 9 AM: 87%).
- Departs outside IAH's trouble window (noon to 6 PM, when 60% of its 92 ground stops and delay programs started).
- Short track record (27 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 27 flights
Find Spirit 2024 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

Airlines on this route

Season-adjusted chance of operating and arriving on time.

Delta Air Lines81%
1,321 flights · 82% on time as flown · 0.9% cancel
Spirit Airlines75%
446 flights · 77% on time as flown · 2.0% cancel
Frontier Airlines73%
91 flights · 69% on time as flown · 1.2% cancel
United Airlines70%
283 flights · 69% on time as flown · 1.6% cancel

On time by departure time

All airlines, scheduled local departure, Jun 2025 to May 2026.

Before 9 AM87%
588 flights · avg delay 12 min
9 AM to noon81%
121 flights · avg delay 9 min
Noon to 3 PM82%
344 flights · avg delay 10 min
3 to 6 PM79%
443 flights · avg delay 19 min
6 to 9 PM69%
648 flights · avg delay 27 min

Best day: Tuesday (82%). Worst: Friday (77%).

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)49%
Late-arriving aircraft31%
Air traffic control and airport volume14%
Severe weather6%

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

IAH to DTW questions

What time of day is best to fly IAH to DTW?: Before 9 AM: 87% of flights arrived on time, against 69% for departures 6 to 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 IAH to DTW?: Delta, with a season-adjusted 81% chance of operating and arriving on time over 1,321 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 IAH to DTW?: July (69% on time); the best was October (88%), 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 IAH

Live status: FAA delays and ground stops

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