Route on-time record

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

Philadelphia (Philadelphia International Airport) to Detroit (Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport). 2,953 nonstop flights in Jun 2025 to May 2026, 80% arrived within 15 minutes and 2.8% were cancelled. The most reliable flight number was Delta 1540 at 6:05 AM.

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

PHL → DTW

Philadelphia to Detroit: 2,953 nonstop flights a year

On time (12 months)

80%

Cancelled

2.8%

avg delay 20 min

Best time to leave

9 AM to noon

89% on time vs 68% 3 to 6 PM

Most reliable airline

Spirit

83% chance on time

Check PHL to DTW fares

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 1540
6:05 AM → 7:55 AM1h 44m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-30.
89%
chance on time
On time (history)
92%
Cancelled
2.6%
Avg arrival delay
14 min
- Arrived on time 92% of the time (337 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs outside PHL's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 72% of its 95 ground stops and delay programs started).
Strong track record · 337 flights
Find Delta 1540 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#2 · Delta 2968
9:41 AM → 11:29 AM1h 44m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
87%
chance on time
On time (history)
90%
Cancelled
2.7%
Avg arrival delay
6 min
- Arrived on time 90% of the time (330 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (9 AM to noon: 89% on time; 3 to 6 PM: 68%).
- Departs outside PHL's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 72% of its 95 ground stops and delay programs started).
Strong track record · 330 flights
Find Delta 2968 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#3 · Delta 2331
12:26 PM → 2:13 PM1h 47m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
86%
chance on time
On time (history)
92%
Cancelled
3.1%
Avg arrival delay
6 min
- Arrived on time 92% of the time (62 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Cancelled 3.1% of the time (2 of 64).
- Departs outside PHL's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 72% of its 95 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.
Moderate track record · 62 flights
Find Delta 2331 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#4 · PSA 5219 · sold as American Eagle
8:43 AM → 10:45 AM2h 02m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-20. Same departure also flew as PSA 5538; its record covers all of them.
79%
chance on time
On time (history)
87%
Cancelled
2.1%
Avg arrival delay
8 min
- Arrived on time 87% of the time (94 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs outside PHL's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 72% of its 95 ground stops and delay programs started).
Moderate track record · 94 flights
Find 8:43 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#5 · PSA 5220 · sold as American Eagle
2:39 PM → 4:34 PM1h 55m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-19.
77%
chance on time
On time (history)
86%
Cancelled
2.3%
Avg arrival delay
9 min
- Arrived on time 86% of the time (42 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs inside PHL's trouble window: 72% of its 95 ground stops and delay programs started between 2 PM and 8 PM.
- Lands inside DTW's trouble window: 64% of its 28 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
- Short track record (42 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 42 flights
Find 2:39 PM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#6 · SkyWest 3589 · sold as United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle or Alaska
12:29 PM → 2:16 PM1h 47m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-06.
77%
chance on time
On time (history)
81%
Cancelled
0.0%
Avg arrival delay
66 min
- Arrived on time 81% of the time (21 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs outside PHL's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 72% of its 95 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.
- Short track record (21 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 21 flights
Find 12:29 PM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#7 · Delta 2582
8:05 PM → 9:56 PM1h 51m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-06.
76%
chance on time
On time (history)
85%
Cancelled
0.0%
Avg arrival delay
8 min
- Arrived on time 85% of the time (20 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs outside PHL's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 72% of its 95 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 Delta 2582 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#8 · Delta 1391
5:18 PM → 7:09 PM1h 44m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
74%
chance on time
On time (history)
78%
Cancelled
2.0%
Avg arrival delay
25 min
- Arrived on time 78% of the time (144 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's least on-time window (3 to 6 PM: 68% on time; 9 AM to noon: 89%).
- Departs inside PHL's trouble window: 72% of its 95 ground stops and delay programs started between 2 PM and 8 PM.
- 51% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.
Moderate track record · 144 flights
Find Delta 1391 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#9 · PSA 5319 · sold as American Eagle
1:47 PM → 3:40 PM1h 53m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
73%
chance on time
On time (history)
100%
Cancelled
0.0%
Avg arrival delay
1 min
- Arrived on time 100% of the time (11 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs outside PHL's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 72% of its 95 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.
- Short track record (11 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 11 flights
Find 1:47 PM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#10 · Delta 1686
8:15 PM → 10:20 PM2h 05m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
70%
chance on time
On time (history)
70%
Cancelled
2.2%
Avg arrival delay
32 min
- Arrived on time 70% of the time (218 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs outside PHL's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 72% of its 95 ground stops and delay programs started).
Strong track record · 218 flights
Find Delta 1686 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

Airlines on this route

Season-adjusted chance of operating and arriving on time.

Spirit Airlines83%
156 flights · 87% on time as flown · 1.7% cancel
Delta Air Lines80%
1,556 flights · 82% on time as flown · 2.0% cancel
American Airlines78%
220 flights · 80% on time as flown · 1.7% cancel
Republic Airways (sold as American Eagle, Delta Connection or United Express)76%
118 flights · 76% on time as flown · 2.7% cancel
SkyWest Airlines (sold as United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle or Alaska)73%
71 flights · 68% on time as flown · 2.8% cancel
Frontier Airlines73%
63 flights · 66% on time as flown · 2.4% cancel
PSA Airlines (sold as American Eagle)72%
769 flights · 76% on time as flown · 5.1% cancel

On time by departure time

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

Before 9 AM87%
824 flights · avg delay 12 min
9 AM to noon89%
465 flights · avg delay 7 min
Noon to 3 PM80%
621 flights · avg delay 20 min
3 to 6 PM68%
446 flights · avg delay 38 min
6 to 9 PM70%
341 flights · avg delay 30 min
After 9 PM74%
256 flights · avg delay 24 min

Best day: Tuesday (86%). Worst: Friday (79%).

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

Late-arriving aircraft42%
Airline (crew, maintenance, boarding)37%
Air traffic control and airport volume16%
Severe weather5%

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

PHL to DTW questions

What time of day is best to fly PHL to DTW?: 9 AM to noon: 89% of flights arrived on time, against 68% for departures 3 to 6 PM.
Which airline is most on time from PHL to DTW?: Spirit, with a season-adjusted 83% chance of operating and arriving on time over 156 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 PHL to DTW?: July (71% 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.

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Live status: FAA delays and ground stops

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