Best Time to Fly JFK to DTW: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
John F. Kennedy International → Detroit Metro Wayne County
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
1,220 flights were scheduled from New York (JFK) to Detroit (DTW) in the last 12 months, and 76.6% of those that flew arrived on time, 1.1 points below the US average of 77.6%.
Delta Air Lines was the most punctual of the 2 airlines on the route at 81.5%, while JetBlue trailed at 67.8%.
September has been the best month (90% on time) and Thursday the weakest day of the week (71%).
3.8% of flights were cancelled, versus 1.8% nationally.
JFK 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 | 81.5% | 98 min | 3.1% | 775 |
| JetBlue | 67.8% | 67 min | 4.9% | 445 |
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly JFK to DTW
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 2,246 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6am–7am | Limited data | 3 | |
| 7am–8am | 93.1% | 0.6% | 161 |
| 9am–10am | 93.3% | 0.0% | 45 |
| 10am–11am | Limited data | 1 | |
| 11am–12pm | Limited data | 11 | |
| 12pm–1pm | 86.3% | 1.6% | 430 |
| 1pm–2pm | 77.8% | 2.6% | 38 |
| 2pm–3pm | Limited data | 6 | |
| 4pm–5pm | 79.1% | 2.0% | 558 |
| 5pm–6pm | 79.3% | 3.3% | 90 |
| 6pm–7pm | Limited data | 20 | |
| 7pm–8pm | 71.7% | 3.9% | 415 |
| 8pm–9pm | 69.6% | 8.2% | 61 |
| 9pm–10pm | 58.5% | 4.2% | 406 |
| 10pm–11pm | Limited data | 1 | |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on JFK 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) | 87.5% | +6.8 pts | 1.8% | 57 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 69.5% | -11.2 pts | 4.8% | 62 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 61.1% | -19.6 pts | 6.8% | 485 |
| All other days | 80.7% | — | 1.6% | 1,642 |
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).