Best Time to Fly IAH to DTW: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
George Bush Intercontinental/Houston → Detroit Metro Wayne County
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
Over the last 12 months, 78.6% of Houston (IAH) to Detroit (DTW) flights arrived on time (2,114 scheduled flights). That is 1.0 points above the national average of 77.6%.
Among 4 airlines, Delta Air Lines led with 82.1% on time and Frontier Airlines was last with 69.1%.
Over 24 months, Wednesday was the most reliable day (83% on time) and June the worst month (74%).
The cancellation rate was 1.1% (US average 1.8%).
IAH 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 | 82.1% | 72 min | 0.8% | 1,322 |
| Spirit Airlines | 76.1% | 77 min | 2.8% | 357 |
| United Airlines | 70.1% | 61 min | 0.7% | 280 |
| Frontier Airlines | 69.1% | 78 min | 1.3% | 152 |
| SkyWest Airlines | Limited data | 3 | ||
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly IAH to DTW
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 4,548 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5am–6am | 90.0% | 1.3% | 926 |
| 6am–7am | 86.2% | 2.4% | 164 |
| 7am–8am | Limited data | 25 | |
| 8am–9am | 79.1% | 6.5% | 46 |
| 9am–10am | 87.9% | 0.0% | 33 |
| 10am–11am | Limited data | 15 | |
| 11am–12pm | 78.0% | 0.6% | 362 |
| 12pm–1pm | 83.5% | 0.3% | 584 |
| 1pm–2pm | 81.2% | 0.0% | 69 |
| 2pm–3pm | 75.3% | 0.7% | 147 |
| 3pm–4pm | 78.6% | 0.3% | 632 |
| 4pm–5pm | 79.4% | 0.4% | 250 |
| 5pm–6pm | 81.5% | 0.0% | 151 |
| 6pm–7pm | 73.1% | 1.1% | 276 |
| 7pm–8pm | 68.9% | 1.2% | 332 |
| 8pm–9pm | 71.5% | 1.9% | 536 |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on IAH 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) | 80.6% | -1.0 pts | 1.0% | 99 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 71.5% | -10.1 pts | 3.4% | 178 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 75.4% | -6.2 pts | 1.3% | 781 |
| All other days | 81.6% | — | 0.8% | 3,490 |
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).