PlainFlights

Route · DTW → SAN · 2020–2025 BTS data

Detroit to San Diego

The DTW–SAN corridor (Detroit, MI → San Diego, CA) runs ahead of the national average, served by 3 carriers across roughly 1,956 miles.

Data updated 2026-06-13

81.9%
On-time
+2.9 pts
vs US avg
62 min
Delay when late
5,989
Flights

Cancelled

0.7%

Best Month

Sep 2024 86%

Worst Month

Dec 2025 64%

Distance

1,956 mi

Carriers

3

Monthly Performance

Recent 24 months of route data.

Period Flights Delayed Cancelled Diverted Carriers
Dec 2025 112 40 3 0 DL
Nov 2025 107 30 0 1 DL
Oct 2025 118 18 0 0 DL,NK
Sep 2025 119 23 2 3 DL,NK
Aug 2025 131 24 1 0 NK,DL
Jul 2025 133 40 2 0 DL,NK
Jun 2025 124 32 0 0 DL,NK
May 2025 109 18 0 1 DL
Apr 2025 102 22 1 0 DL
Mar 2025 89 15 0 1 DL
Feb 2025 70 22 0 1 DL
Jan 2025 77 15 0 0 DL
Dec 2024 112 25 2 2 DL
Nov 2024 103 15 0 0 DL
Oct 2024 111 17 1 1 DL
Sep 2024 103 14 0 0 DL
Aug 2024 113 34 0 0 DL
Jul 2024 113 31 6 0 DL
Jun 2024 111 39 0 0 DL
May 2024 110 30 0 0 DL
Apr 2024 99 17 0 0 DL
Mar 2024 84 16 0 1 DL
Feb 2024 58 8 0 1 DL
Jan 2024 64 11 0 1 DL

Cancellation Rate

0.7%

18 of 2,472 flights

Diversion Rate

0.5%

13 of 2,472 flights

What the Data Says About DTW to SAN

5,989 tracked flights put the DTW to SAN pairing (Detroit to San Diego) at a 81.9% on-time rate, squarely in line with the wider network. Delays that do occur run 62.4 minutes on average. Across the 1,956-mile route and its 3 carriers, the trailing 24 months show 0.7% cancelled and 0.5% diverted (2,472 flights sampled).

The monthly split is wide on this route: Sep 2024 posted the strongest performance at 86% on-time, while Dec 2025 came in at just 64% - a 22-point swing worth factoring into travel timing.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often are flights delayed from DTW to SAN?
Flights from Detroit to San Diego have a 81.9% on-time rate based on 5,989 flights. The average delay is 62.4 minutes. The best recent month was Sep 2024 with 86% on-time.
What is the cancellation rate for DTW to SAN?
Over the last 24 months, 0.7% of flights on this route were cancelled (18 of 2,472 flights) and 0.5% were diverted.
How far is the flight from DTW to SAN?
The flight distance from Detroit (DTW) to San Diego (SAN) is approximately 1,956 miles. This route is served by 3 carriers.
When is the best time to fly from DTW to SAN?
The best recent month for on-time performance was Sep 2024 (86% on-time). The worst was Dec 2025 (64% on-time). Consider booking during months with historically better performance.

Explore PlainFlights

Data source

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

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 Editorial

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.