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Route · BUF → DTW · 2020–2025 BTS data

Buffalo to Detroit

According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking (BTS On-Time Performance total flights), BUF to DTW (Buffalo to Detroit) ranks #1729 of 4927 tracked domestic routes by total flights (most flights = #1).

Data updated 2026-06-13

87.7%
On-time
+8.7 pts
vs US avg
92 min
Delay when late
7,310
Flights
#1729 of 4927
Corpus placement

Cancelled

1.1%

Best Month

Sep 2025 96%

Worst Month

Dec 2025 61%

Distance

241 mi

Carriers

19

Monthly Performance

Recent 24 months of route data.

Period Flights Delayed Cancelled Diverted Carriers
Dec 2025 98 38 4 0 DL,YX,OO
Nov 2025 108 17 4 0 OO,DL,YX
Oct 2025 128 11 0 0 OO,DL
Sep 2025 54 2 0 0 OO,DL
Aug 2025 38 6 0 0 OO,DL
Jul 2025 34 3 0 0 OO,DL
Jun 2025 50 6 0 0 OO,DL
May 2025 116 9 0 0 OO,DL
Apr 2025 112 20 0 0 DL,OO
Mar 2025 104 24 0 0 OO,DL
Feb 2025 61 20 0 0 OO,DL
Jan 2025 65 17 0 0 OO,DL
Dec 2024 107 32 0 0 9E,DL,OO
Nov 2024 105 12 0 0 OO,DL,9E
Oct 2024 116 14 0 0 OO,DL,9E
Sep 2024 111 12 0 0 OO,9E,DL
Aug 2024 116 25 3 0 DL,9E,OO
Jul 2024 116 17 5 0 9E,DL,OO
Jun 2024 114 24 1 0 9E,DL,OO
May 2024 119 13 0 0 9E,DL,OO
Apr 2024 116 6 0 0 9E,DL,OO
Mar 2024 112 14 0 0 9E,DL,OO
Feb 2024 87 7 0 0 DL,OO
Jan 2024 92 27 9 0 9E,DL,OO

BUF–DTW seasonal on-time pattern

Best: May (93.7%) · weakest: December (78.9%)

75%80%85%90%95% JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec 78.9%

Strongest calendar month

May

93.7% on-time · ~103 flights/mo

Busiest calendar month

October

~114 flights/mo avg

Weakest calendar month

December

78.9% on-time · ~99 flights/mo

Cancellation Rate

1.1%

26 of 2,279 flights

Diversion Rate

0.0%

0 of 2,279 flights

Explore origin & destination

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

BUF - Buffalo

Full on-time, delay-cause, and seasonal performance for Buffalo, NY.

BUF 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 BUF and DTW side by side on delays, cancellations, and reliability.

Compare BUF vs DTW

Origin-hub reliability standing

Among BUF's stronger departures

BUF → DTW posts a 87.7% on-time rate, landing in the ≥85% band with 6 of 19 BTS-tracked routes leaving Buffalo. The same hub also shows 12 mid-band and 1 challenged departures · fleet-wide on-time rank #475 of 4927 (highest on-time = #1).

What the Data Says About BUF to DTW

Buffalo to Detroit (BUF to DTW) is one of the more dependable pairings in the BTS On-Time Performance dataset: a 87.7% on-time rate across 7,310 flights, with delays that do happen averaging 92.4 minutes. The corridor runs roughly 241 miles and is served by 19 carriers. Over the most recent 24 months, 26 of 2,279 flights were cancelled (1.1%) and 0 diverted (0.0%).

The monthly split is wide on this route: Sep 2025 posted the strongest performance at 96% on-time, while Dec 2025 came in at just 61% - a 35-point swing worth factoring into travel timing.

On the multi-year calendar, BUF–DTW peaks in May at 93.7% on-time while October carries the heaviest traffic (~114 flights per month) ; the softest month is December at 78.9%, a 14.8-point swing that repeats because the corridor's weather and holiday mix stays stable year to year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does BUF to DTW rank among US routes by traffic? ▼
According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking, BUF to DTW ranks #1729 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 BUF to DTW? ▼
Flights from Buffalo to Detroit have a 87.7% on-time rate based on 7,310 flights. The average delay is 92.4 minutes. The best recent month was Sep 2025 with 96% on-time.
What is the cancellation rate for BUF to DTW? ▼
Over the last 24 months, 1.1% of flights on this route were cancelled (26 of 2,279 flights) and 0.0% were diverted.
How far is the flight from BUF to DTW? ▼
The flight distance from Buffalo (BUF) to Detroit (DTW) is approximately 241 miles. This route is served by 19 carriers.
When is the best time to fly from BUF to DTW? ▼
The best recent month for on-time performance was Sep 2025 (96% on-time). The worst was Dec 2025 (61% on-time). Consider booking during months with historically better performance.

Airports on this route

BUF Airport

Buffalo
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 BUF–DTW data

BUF–DTW runs 8.7 pts above the national 79% average; the remaining risk is month-to-month swing and carrier mix, not a weak headline rate.

  • Compare BUF and DTW airport profiles: delay causes and top routes differ even on the same corridor. BUF airport
  • If your dates flex, May (93.7% on-time) beats December (78.9%) on this corridor. Seasonal chart
  • 4 other routes post a similar 87.7% 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.