PlainFlights

Route · BOS → DTW · 2020–2025 BTS data

Boston to Detroit

According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking (BTS On-Time Performance total flights), BOS to DTW (Boston to Detroit) ranks #652 of 4927 tracked domestic routes by total flights (most flights = #1).

Data updated 2026-06-13

82.9%
On-time
+3.9 pts
vs US avg
75 min
Delay when late
14,562
Flights
#652 of 4927
Corpus placement

Cancelled

1.0%

Best Month

Feb 2024 90%

Worst Month

Dec 2025 68%

Distance

632 mi

Carriers

13

Monthly Performance

Recent 24 months of route data.

Period Flights Delayed Cancelled Diverted Carriers
Dec 2025 198 63 2 0 B6,DL,NK
Nov 2025 228 48 3 0 DL,NK,B6,YX
Oct 2025 278 59 4 0 B6,DL,NK
Sep 2025 245 36 1 0 DL,NK,B6
Aug 2025 250 43 1 1 NK,B6,DL
Jul 2025 250 79 8 2 B6,DL,NK
Jun 2025 251 73 5 0 B6,DL,NK
May 2025 250 61 0 0 B6,DL,NK
Apr 2025 239 40 1 1 DL,NK,YX,B6
Mar 2025 240 37 1 1 B6,YX,DL,NK
Feb 2025 184 36 0 1 B6,YX,DL,NK
Jan 2025 202 27 1 0 B6,DL,NK
Dec 2024 235 65 4 1 B6,DL,NK
Nov 2024 225 28 0 0 B6,NK,DL
Oct 2024 249 44 0 0 DL,NK,B6
Sep 2024 250 46 1 0 B6,DL,NK
Aug 2024 240 59 6 0 B6,DL,NK
Jul 2024 244 69 13 0 B6,DL,NK
Jun 2024 239 69 1 0 B6,DL,NK
May 2024 243 45 0 1 B6,DL
Apr 2024 206 37 1 0 B6,DL
Mar 2024 212 28 0 0 B6,DL,YX
Feb 2024 195 19 2 0 B6,DL,YX
Jan 2024 203 46 3 2 B6,DL,YX

BOS–DTW seasonal on-time pattern

Best: November (87.3%) · weakest: July (75.6%)

75%80%85%90% JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec 79.3%

Strongest calendar month

November

87.3% on-time · ~206 flights/mo

Busiest calendar month

October

~222 flights/mo avg

Weakest calendar month

July

75.6% on-time · ~212 flights/mo

Cancellation Rate

1.0%

58 of 5,556 flights

Diversion Rate

0.2%

10 of 5,556 flights

Explore origin & destination

On-time and delay data for the airports this route connects.

BOS - Boston

Full on-time, delay-cause, and seasonal performance for Boston, MA.

BOS on-time profile

DTW - Detroit

Full on-time, delay-cause, and seasonal performance for Detroit, MI.

DTW on-time profile

Compare the two airports

See BOS and DTW side by side on delays, cancellations, and reliability.

Compare BOS vs DTW

Origin-hub reliability standing

Mid-pack among BOS departures

From BOS, this corridor sits with 49 other 75–85% on-time routes out of 60 tracked departures, not the hub's reliability leaders (6 at ≥85%) and not the softest ( 5 below 75%). Destination: Detroit · fleet on-time rank #1968 of 4927.

What the Data Says About BOS to DTW

Bureau of Transportation Statistics records show Boston to Detroit (BOS to DTW) running a 82.9% on-time rate over 14,562 tracked flights, on the stronger end of a typical domestic pairing. When flights do run late, the average delay is 74.5 minutes. The 632-mile corridor is served by 13 carriers, and over the last 24 months 1.0% of 5,556 flights were cancelled, 0.2% diverted.

The monthly split is wide on this route: Feb 2024 posted the strongest performance at 90% on-time, while Dec 2025 came in at just 68% - a 22-point swing worth factoring into travel timing.

On the multi-year calendar, BOS–DTW peaks in November at 87.3% on-time while October carries the heaviest traffic (~222 flights per month) ; the softest month is July at 75.6%, a 11.7-point swing that repeats because the corridor's weather and holiday mix stays stable year to year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does BOS to DTW rank among US routes by traffic? ▼
According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking, BOS to DTW ranks #652 of 4927 tracked domestic routes by total flights (most flights = #1). That ordinal matches our busiest-routes listing (total_flights DESC). See /methodology#corpus-placement for the exact sort basis.
How often are flights delayed from BOS to DTW? ▼
Flights from Boston to Detroit have a 82.9% on-time rate based on 14,562 flights. The average delay is 74.5 minutes. The best recent month was Feb 2024 with 90% on-time.
What is the cancellation rate for BOS to DTW? ▼
Over the last 24 months, 1.0% of flights on this route were cancelled (58 of 5,556 flights) and 0.2% were diverted.
How far is the flight from BOS to DTW? ▼
The flight distance from Boston (BOS) to Detroit (DTW) is approximately 632 miles. This route is served by 13 carriers.
When is the best time to fly from BOS to DTW? ▼
The best recent month for on-time performance was Feb 2024 (90% on-time). The worst was Dec 2025 (68% on-time). Consider booking during months with historically better performance.

Airports on this route

BOS Airport

Boston
DTW Airport

Detroit
Data source

Data Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), On-Time Performance Data. Statistics reflect cumulative performance across all available reporting periods.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Using BOS–DTW data

BOS–DTW runs 3.9 pts above the national 79% average; the remaining risk is month-to-month swing and carrier mix, not a weak headline rate.

  • Compare BOS and DTW airport profiles: delay causes and top routes differ even on the same corridor. BOS airport
  • If your dates flex, November (87.3% on-time) beats July (75.6%) on this corridor. Seasonal chart
  • 4 other routes post a similar 82.9% on-time rate; compare before you commit to this pairing. Similar routes

On-time rate reflects the BTS historical average across all reporting carriers on this origin–destination pair, not any single flight or booking recommendation.

Data sourced from U.S. Department of Transportation Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) On-Time Performance data. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainFlights

Every figure on PlainFlights is rendered directly from BTS On-Time Performance data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page aggregates this specific route's on-time performance and monthly trend, live from the dataset. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.