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Route · LAX → DTW · 2020–2025 BTS data

Los Angeles to Detroit

The LAX–DTW corridor (Los Angeles, CA → Detroit, MI) runs ahead of the national average, served by 5 carriers across roughly 1,979 miles.

Data updated 2026-06-13

84.9%
On-time
+5.9 pts
vs US avg
70 min
Delay when late
15,444
Flights

Cancelled

0.8%

Best Month

Sep 2024 94%

Worst Month

Dec 2025 75%

Distance

1,979 mi

Carriers

5

Monthly Performance

Recent 24 months of route data.

Period Flights Delayed Cancelled Diverted Carriers
Dec 2025 215 54 6 0 DL,NK,AA
Nov 2025 185 22 2 0 NK,DL
Oct 2025 235 20 1 0 DL,NK
Sep 2025 228 25 0 0 DL,NK
Aug 2025 243 37 1 0 NK,DL
Jul 2025 261 42 1 1 DL,NK
Jun 2025 246 54 2 0 DL,NK
May 2025 231 44 0 0 DL,NK
Apr 2025 233 33 2 2 DL,NK
Mar 2025 219 46 0 1 DL,NK
Feb 2025 177 25 2 1 DL,NK
Jan 2025 219 32 0 0 DL,NK
Dec 2024 222 33 0 0 DL,NK
Nov 2024 207 13 0 1 NK,DL
Oct 2024 224 24 0 0 DL,NK
Sep 2024 246 14 1 0 AA,DL,NK
Aug 2024 282 53 2 1 DL,NK
Jul 2024 291 70 21 0 DL,NK
Jun 2024 274 56 2 0 DL,NK
May 2024 259 55 1 1 DL,NK
Apr 2024 217 22 0 2 DL,NK
Mar 2024 194 26 0 0 DL,NK
Feb 2024 163 16 0 0 DL,NK
Jan 2024 193 37 2 2 DL,NK

Cancellation Rate

0.8%

46 of 5,464 flights

Diversion Rate

0.2%

12 of 5,464 flights

What the Data Says About LAX to DTW

Bureau of Transportation Statistics records show Los Angeles to Detroit (LAX to DTW) running a 84.9% on-time rate over 15,444 tracked flights, on the stronger end of a typical domestic pairing. When flights do run late, the average delay is 69.7 minutes. The 1,979-mile corridor is served by 5 carriers, and over the last 24 months 0.8% of 5,464 flights were cancelled, 0.2% diverted.

The monthly split is wide on this route: Sep 2024 posted the strongest performance at 94% on-time, while Dec 2025 came in at just 75% - a 19-point swing worth factoring into travel timing.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often are flights delayed from LAX to DTW?
Flights from Los Angeles to Detroit have a 84.9% on-time rate based on 15,444 flights. The average delay is 69.7 minutes. The best recent month was Sep 2024 with 94% on-time.
What is the cancellation rate for LAX to DTW?
Over the last 24 months, 0.8% of flights on this route were cancelled (46 of 5,464 flights) and 0.2% were diverted.
How far is the flight from LAX to DTW?
The flight distance from Los Angeles (LAX) to Detroit (DTW) is approximately 1,979 miles. This route is served by 5 carriers.
When is the best time to fly from LAX to DTW?
The best recent month for on-time performance was Sep 2024 (94% on-time). The worst was Dec 2025 (75% on-time). Consider booking during months with historically better performance.

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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.