Best Time to Fly DTW to STL: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Detroit Metro Wayne County → St Louis Lambert International
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
Over the last 12 months, 77.0% of Detroit (DTW) to St. Louis (STL) flights arrived on time (1,894 scheduled flights). That is 0.7 points below the national average of 77.6%.
Among 3 airlines, Delta Air Lines led with 79.9% on time and SkyWest Airlines was last with 61.2%.
Over 24 months, Tuesday was the most reliable day (84% on time) and December the worst month (70%).
The cancellation rate was 1.1% (US average 1.8%).
DTW to STL 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Lines | 79.9% | 63 min | 1.3% | 1,095 |
| Southwest Airlines | 75.9% | 54 min | 0.5% | 597 |
| SkyWest Airlines | 61.2% | 87 min | 1.6% | 183 |
| Spirit Airlines | Limited data | 19 | ||
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly DTW to STL
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 3,711 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5am–6am | Limited data | 29 | |
| 6am–7am | 92.5% | 0.0% | 40 |
| 7am–8am | 94.6% | 0.5% | 224 |
| 8am–9am | 84.9% | 0.7% | 818 |
| 9am–10am | 89.8% | 0.0% | 49 |
| 10am–11am | Limited data | 29 | |
| 11am–12pm | 86.4% | 0.0% | 88 |
| 12pm–1pm | 83.5% | 0.6% | 466 |
| 1pm–2pm | 74.7% | 1.2% | 80 |
| 2pm–3pm | Limited data | 27 | |
| 3pm–4pm | 78.3% | 0.0% | 189 |
| 4pm–5pm | 78.2% | 1.1% | 550 |
| 5pm–6pm | 83.3% | 3.2% | 31 |
| 6pm–7pm | 70.6% | 0.0% | 102 |
| 7pm–8pm | 75.2% | 0.8% | 253 |
| 8pm–9pm | 70.8% | 0.6% | 667 |
| 9pm–10pm | 73.5% | 1.4% | 69 |
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 STL
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) | 58.7% | -24.0 pts | 1.3% | 76 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 67.9% | -14.8 pts | 0.7% | 142 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 75.2% | -7.5 pts | 1.0% | 728 |
| All other days | 82.7% | — | 0.7% | 2,765 |
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).