Best Time to Fly ATL to DTW: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International → Detroit Metro Wayne County
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
4,848 flights were scheduled from Atlanta (ATL) to Detroit (DTW) in the last 12 months, and 77.3% of those that flew arrived on time, in line with the US average of 77.6%.
Among 3 airlines, Delta Air Lines led with 78.6% on time and Frontier Airlines was last with 66.8%.
Over 24 months, Wednesday was the most reliable day (84% on time) and July the worst month (61%).
The cancellation rate was 0.8% (US average 1.8%).
ATL to DTW 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 | 78.6% | 60 min | 0.5% | 3,737 |
| Spirit Airlines | 78.3% | 82 min | 2.2% | 588 |
| Frontier Airlines | 66.8% | 70 min | 1.5% | 523 |
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly ATL to DTW
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 9,772 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5am–6am | 81.7% | 0.0% | 82 |
| 6am–7am | 90.0% | 0.8% | 625 |
| 7am–8am | 88.5% | 0.9% | 927 |
| 8am–9am | 83.8% | 1.8% | 276 |
| 9am–10am | 82.1% | 1.3% | 770 |
| 10am–11am | 81.8% | 0.3% | 348 |
| 11am–12pm | 81.0% | 0.7% | 620 |
| 12pm–1pm | 74.1% | 0.8% | 242 |
| 1pm–2pm | 83.5% | 0.7% | 690 |
| 2pm–3pm | 75.6% | 0.9% | 347 |
| 3pm–4pm | 76.2% | 0.8% | 654 |
| 4pm–5pm | 74.2% | 0.3% | 727 |
| 5pm–6pm | 78.8% | 0.9% | 315 |
| 6pm–7pm | 72.8% | 0.3% | 657 |
| 7pm–8pm | 67.6% | 0.7% | 562 |
| 8pm–9pm | 68.4% | 0.9% | 582 |
| 9pm–10pm | 60.7% | 0.6% | 502 |
| 10pm–11pm | 66.6% | 1.0% | 687 |
| 11pm–12am | 67.3% | 0.0% | 159 |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on ATL to DTW
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) | 75.7% | -4.4 pts | 0.0% | 189 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 65.6% | -14.4 pts | 0.8% | 352 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 66.5% | -13.5 pts | 0.8% | 1,730 |
| All other days | 80.0% | — | 0.8% | 7,501 |
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).