PlainFlights

Route · DTW → PHX · 2020–2025 BTS data

Detroit to Phoenix

According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking (BTS On-Time Performance total flights), DTW to PHX (Detroit to Phoenix) ranks #792 of 4927 tracked domestic routes by total flights (most flights = #1).

Data updated 2026-06-13

82.3%
On-time
+3.3 pts
vs US avg
76 min
Delay when late
13,105
Flights
#792 of 4927
Corpus placement

Cancelled

0.7%

Best Month

Oct 2024 89%

Worst Month

Dec 2025 59%

Distance

1,671 mi

Carriers

30

Monthly Performance

Recent 24 months of route data.

Period Flights Delayed Cancelled Diverted Carriers
Dec 2025 220 90 4 0 DL,WN,F9,NK,AA
Nov 2025 197 55 1 0 DL,F9,NK,AA,WN
Oct 2025 216 29 0 2 AA,DL,F9,NK
Sep 2025 183 26 0 3 DL,NK,F9,AA
Aug 2025 186 30 0 1 AA,F9,NK,DL
Jul 2025 238 57 3 1 AA,NK,DL,F9
Jun 2025 216 42 1 0 AA,NK,DL,F9
May 2025 208 34 0 1 AA,WN,DL,F9
Apr 2025 210 49 1 0 DL,F9,WN,AA
Mar 2025 211 46 1 1 AA,WN,DL,F9
Feb 2025 156 55 1 0 AA,WN,DL,F9
Jan 2025 169 34 1 0 AA,WN,DL,F9
Dec 2024 205 35 1 0 AA,DL,F9,WN
Nov 2024 192 31 0 0 WN,DL,F9,AA
Oct 2024 205 22 0 0 DL,F9,WN,AA
Sep 2024 189 21 0 0 WN,AA,DL,F9
Aug 2024 199 41 3 1 AA,DL,F9,WN
Jul 2024 208 48 13 0 AA,DL,F9,WN
Jun 2024 185 35 1 1 AA,DL,F9,WN
May 2024 195 58 1 0 AA,DL,F9,WN
Apr 2024 210 40 0 0 AA,DL,F9,WN
Mar 2024 192 34 0 1 AA,DL,F9,WN
Feb 2024 156 20 0 0 AA,DL,F9
Jan 2024 169 55 3 0 AA,DL,F9,WN

DTW–PHX seasonal on-time pattern

Best: September (87.5%) · weakest: December (75.9%)

75%80%85%90% JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec 75.9%

Strongest calendar month

September

87.5% on-time · ~160 flights/mo

Busiest calendar month

March

~227 flights/mo avg

Weakest calendar month

December

75.9% on-time · ~202 flights/mo

Cancellation Rate

0.7%

35 of 4,715 flights

Diversion Rate

0.3%

12 of 4,715 flights

Origin-hub reliability standing

Mid-pack among DTW departures

From DTW, this corridor sits with 60 other 75–85% on-time routes out of 94 tracked departures, not the hub's reliability leaders (34 at ≥85%) and not the softest ( 0 below 75%). Destination: Phoenix · fleet on-time rank #2227 of 4927.

What the Data Says About DTW to PHX

Bureau of Transportation Statistics records show Detroit to Phoenix (DTW to PHX) running a 82.3% on-time rate over 13,105 tracked flights, on the stronger end of a typical domestic pairing. When flights do run late, the average delay is 76.4 minutes. The 1,671-mile corridor is served by 30 carriers, and over the last 24 months 0.7% of 4,715 flights were cancelled, 0.3% diverted.

The monthly split is wide on this route: Oct 2024 posted the strongest performance at 89% on-time, while Dec 2025 came in at just 59% - a 30-point swing worth factoring into travel timing.

On the multi-year calendar, DTW–PHX peaks in September at 87.5% on-time while March carries the heaviest traffic (~227 flights per month) ; the softest month is December at 75.9%, a 11.6-point swing that repeats because the corridor's weather and holiday mix stays stable year to year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does DTW to PHX rank among US routes by traffic?
According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking, DTW to PHX ranks #792 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 DTW to PHX?
Flights from Detroit to Phoenix have a 82.3% on-time rate based on 13,105 flights. The average delay is 76.4 minutes. The best recent month was Oct 2024 with 89% on-time.
What is the cancellation rate for DTW to PHX?
Over the last 24 months, 0.7% of flights on this route were cancelled (35 of 4,715 flights) and 0.3% were diverted.
How far is the flight from DTW to PHX?
The flight distance from Detroit (DTW) to Phoenix (PHX) is approximately 1,671 miles. This route is served by 30 carriers.
When is the best time to fly from DTW to PHX?
The best recent month for on-time performance was Oct 2024 (89% on-time). The worst was Dec 2025 (59% on-time). Consider booking during months with historically better performance.

Airports on this route

Data source

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

Using DTW–PHX data

DTW–PHX runs 3.3 pts above the national 79% average; the remaining risk is month-to-month swing and carrier mix, not a weak headline rate.

  • Compare DTW and PHX airport profiles: delay causes and top routes differ even on the same corridor. DTW airport
  • If your dates flex, September (87.5% on-time) beats December (75.9%) on this corridor. Seasonal chart
  • 4 other routes post a similar 82.3% 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.