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Route · MDT → DTW · 2020–2025 BTS data

Harrisburg to Detroit

According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking (BTS On-Time Performance total flights), MDT to DTW (Harrisburg to Detroit) ranks #3059 of 4927 tracked domestic routes by total flights (most flights = #1).

Data updated 2026-06-13

87.8%
On-time
+8.8 pts
vs US avg
110 min
Delay when late
3,648
Flights
#3059 of 4927
Corpus placement

Cancelled

0.7%

Best Month

Oct 2025 94%

Worst Month

Dec 2024 74%

Distance

371 mi

Carriers

6

Monthly Performance

Recent 24 months of route data.

Period Flights Delayed Cancelled Diverted Carriers
Dec 2025 41 15 2 0 OO
Nov 2025 35 4 1 0 OO
Oct 2025 51 3 0 0 OO
May 2025 56 4 0 0 OO
Apr 2025 44 3 0 0 OO
Mar 2025 31 2 0 0 OO
Jan 2025 35 12 1 0 OO
Dec 2024 57 15 0 0 OO
Nov 2024 56 8 0 0 OO,DL
Oct 2024 57 4 0 0 OO
Sep 2024 51 6 0 0 OO
Aug 2024 54 12 0 0 OO
Jul 2024 54 10 0 0 OO
Jun 2024 52 12 0 0 9E,OO
May 2024 44 8 0 1 9E,OO
Apr 2024 30 2 0 0 9E,OO
Mar 2024 31 1 0 0 9E,OO
Jan 2024 31 7 2 0 9E,OO
Dec 2023 31 3 0 0 OO,9E
Nov 2023 30 3 0 0 9E,OO
Oct 2023 31 1 0 0 9E,OO
Sep 2023 58 11 0 0 9E,OO
Aug 2023 48 8 1 0 OO
Jul 2023 53 8 0 0 9E,OO

MDT–DTW seasonal on-time pattern

Best: October (92.8%) · weakest: January (82.1%)

80%85%90%95% JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec 83.6%

Strongest calendar month

October

92.8% on-time · ~58 flights/mo

Busiest calendar month

February

~65 flights/mo avg

Weakest calendar month

January

82.1% on-time · ~54 flights/mo

Cancellation Rate

0.7%

7 of 1,061 flights

Diversion Rate

0.1%

1 of 1,061 flights

Explore origin & destination

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

MDT - Harrisburg

Full on-time, delay-cause, and seasonal performance for Harrisburg, PA.

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

Compare MDT vs DTW

Origin-hub reliability standing

Among MDT's stronger departures

MDT → DTW posts a 87.8% on-time rate, landing in the ≥85% band with 5 of 6 BTS-tracked routes leaving Harrisburg. The same hub also shows 1 mid-band and 0 challenged departures · fleet-wide on-time rank #456 of 4927 (highest on-time = #1).

What the Data Says About MDT to DTW

Harrisburg to Detroit (MDT to DTW) is one of the more dependable pairings in the BTS On-Time Performance dataset: a 87.8% on-time rate across 3,648 flights, with delays that do happen averaging 109.6 minutes. The corridor runs roughly 371 miles and is served by 6 carriers. Over the most recent 24 months, 7 of 1,061 flights were cancelled (0.7%) and 1 diverted (0.1%).

The monthly split is wide on this route: Oct 2025 posted the strongest performance at 94% on-time, while Dec 2024 came in at just 74% - a 20-point swing worth factoring into travel timing.

On the multi-year calendar, MDT–DTW peaks in October at 92.8% on-time while February carries the heaviest traffic (~65 flights per month) ; the softest month is January at 82.1%, a 10.7-point swing that repeats because the corridor's weather and holiday mix stays stable year to year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does MDT to DTW rank among US routes by traffic? ▼
According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking, MDT to DTW ranks #3059 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 MDT to DTW? ▼
Flights from Harrisburg to Detroit have a 87.8% on-time rate based on 3,648 flights. The average delay is 109.6 minutes. The best recent month was Oct 2025 with 94% on-time.
What is the cancellation rate for MDT to DTW? ▼
Over the last 24 months, 0.7% of flights on this route were cancelled (7 of 1,061 flights) and 0.1% were diverted.
How far is the flight from MDT to DTW? ▼
The flight distance from Harrisburg (MDT) to Detroit (DTW) is approximately 371 miles. This route is served by 6 carriers.
When is the best time to fly from MDT to DTW? ▼
The best recent month for on-time performance was Oct 2025 (94% on-time). The worst was Dec 2024 (74% on-time). Consider booking during months with historically better performance.

Airports on this route

MDT Airport

Harrisburg
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 MDT–DTW data

MDT–DTW runs 8.8 pts above the national 79% average; the remaining risk is month-to-month swing and carrier mix, not a weak headline rate.

  • Compare MDT and DTW airport profiles: delay causes and top routes differ even on the same corridor. MDT airport
  • If your dates flex, October (92.8% on-time) beats January (82.1%) on this corridor. Seasonal chart
  • 4 other routes post a similar 87.8% 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.