Best Time to Fly DTW to DFW: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Detroit Metro Wayne County → Dallas/Fort Worth International
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
Over the last 12 months, 75.3% of Detroit (DTW) to Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) flights arrived on time (3,493 scheduled flights). That is 2.3 points below the national average of 77.6%.
Among 4 airlines, Spirit Airlines led with 77.5% on time and Frontier Airlines was last with 59.8%.
Over 24 months, Tuesday was the most reliable day (81% on time) and December the worst month (70%).
The cancellation rate was 2.4% (US average 1.8%).
DTW to DFW on-time performance by airline
Last 12 months. Airlines with fewer than 30 completed flights are marked “limited data”.
| Airline | On time | Avg delay when late | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spirit Airlines | 77.5% | 57 min | 1.6% | 191 |
| Delta Air Lines | 77.0% | 57 min | 1.8% | 1,405 |
| American Airlines | 75.9% | 90 min | 2.8% | 1,623 |
| Frontier Airlines | 59.8% | 84 min | 3.1% | 259 |
| Envoy Air | Limited data | 15 | ||
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly DTW to DFW
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 7,508 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5am–6am | 88.1% | 1.2% | 513 |
| 6am–7am | 82.6% | 2.4% | 295 |
| 7am–8am | 82.5% | 2.8% | 642 |
| 8am–9am | 79.5% | 1.7% | 752 |
| 9am–10am | 60.0% | 6.2% | 32 |
| 10am–11am | 71.0% | 0.0% | 31 |
| 11am–12pm | 79.8% | 1.6% | 638 |
| 12pm–1pm | 83.1% | 1.1% | 826 |
| 1pm–2pm | 76.0% | 2.9% | 104 |
| 2pm–3pm | 77.8% | 4.3% | 47 |
| 3pm–4pm | 71.8% | 1.5% | 924 |
| 4pm–5pm | 74.3% | 1.2% | 427 |
| 5pm–6pm | 68.2% | 2.9% | 412 |
| 6pm–7pm | 69.0% | 1.1% | 189 |
| 7pm–8pm | 64.2% | 2.4% | 831 |
| 8pm–9pm | 62.5% | 1.0% | 520 |
| 9pm–10pm | 71.5% | 2.9% | 243 |
| 10pm–11pm | 75.6% | 0.0% | 82 |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on DTW to DFW
On-time arrivals during holiday periods compared with all other days, last 24 months.
| Period | On time | vs other days | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving week (Tue before to Mon after) | 58.8% | -18.0 pts | 0.7% | 154 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 67.5% | -9.3 pts | 1.2% | 324 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 73.1% | -3.7 pts | 2.1% | 1,302 |
| All other days | 76.8% | — | 1.8% | 5,728 |
Monthly on-time trend
On-time arrival % each month, with the 12-month US average for reference.
What causes delays on this route
Share of reported delay minutes, last 12 months (BTS cause categories).