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Route · MEM → DTW · 2020–2025 BTS data

Memphis to Detroit

According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking (BTS On-Time Performance total flights), MEM to DTW (Memphis to Detroit) ranks #2583 of 4927 tracked domestic routes by total flights (most flights = #1).

Data updated 2026-06-13

88.9%
On-time
+9.9 pts
vs US avg
98 min
Delay when late
4,700
Flights
#2583 of 4927
Corpus placement

Cancelled

0.9%

Best Month

Dec 2023 98%

Worst Month

Jan 2024 72%

Distance

610 mi

Carriers

24

Monthly Performance

Recent 24 months of route data.

Period Flights Delayed Cancelled Diverted Carriers
Dec 2025 71 14 3 0 DL,YX,OO
Nov 2025 68 4 2 0 OO,DL
Oct 2025 115 10 0 1 OO,DL
Sep 2025 105 9 0 0 OO
Aug 2025 107 13 1 0 OO,YX,NK,DL
Jul 2025 128 16 3 0 DL,NK,OO,YX
Jun 2025 117 26 2 0 DL,NK,OO
May 2025 75 12 0 0 OO,DL,NK
Apr 2025 60 7 0 0 DL
Mar 2025 54 4 0 1 DL
Jan 2025 36 12 1 0 OO,YX,DL
Dec 2024 78 7 0 0 9E,DL,OO,YX
Nov 2024 82 5 0 0 9E,YX,DL,OO
Oct 2024 85 8 0 0 OO,9E
Sep 2024 74 6 0 0 OO,9E,DL
Aug 2024 77 6 0 0 DL,9E,OO
Jul 2024 76 10 2 0 9E,DL
Jun 2024 72 9 0 0 9E,DL,OO
May 2024 57 3 0 0 DL
Apr 2024 56 5 0 0 9E,DL
Mar 2024 57 2 0 0 DL,OO
Feb 2024 49 3 0 0 9E,DL,OO
Jan 2024 57 16 3 2 9E,DL
Dec 2023 54 1 0 0 DL,9E

MEM–DTW seasonal on-time pattern

Best: September (92.5%) · weakest: January (82.3%)

80%85%90%95% JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec 90.1%

Strongest calendar month

September

92.5% on-time · ~73 flights/mo

Busiest calendar month

June

~83 flights/mo avg

Weakest calendar month

January

82.3% on-time · ~57 flights/mo

Cancellation Rate

0.9%

17 of 1,810 flights

Diversion Rate

0.2%

4 of 1,810 flights

Explore origin & destination

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

MEM - Memphis

Full on-time, delay-cause, and seasonal performance for Memphis, TN.

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

Compare MEM vs DTW

Origin-hub reliability standing

Among MEM's stronger departures

MEM → DTW posts a 88.9% on-time rate, landing in the ≥85% band with 7 of 22 BTS-tracked routes leaving Memphis. The same hub also shows 14 mid-band and 1 challenged departures · fleet-wide on-time rank #267 of 4927 (highest on-time = #1).

What the Data Says About MEM to DTW

Memphis to Detroit (MEM to DTW) is one of the more dependable pairings in the BTS On-Time Performance dataset: a 88.9% on-time rate across 4,700 flights, with delays that do happen averaging 98.1 minutes. The corridor runs roughly 610 miles and is served by 24 carriers. Over the most recent 24 months, 17 of 1,810 flights were cancelled (0.9%) and 4 diverted (0.2%).

The monthly split is wide on this route: Dec 2023 posted the strongest performance at 98% on-time, while Jan 2024 came in at just 72% - a 26-point swing worth factoring into travel timing.

On the multi-year calendar, MEM–DTW peaks in September at 92.5% on-time while June carries the heaviest traffic (~83 flights per month) ; the softest month is January at 82.3%, a 10.2-point swing that repeats because the corridor's weather and holiday mix stays stable year to year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does MEM to DTW rank among US routes by traffic? ▼
According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking, MEM to DTW ranks #2583 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 MEM to DTW? ▼
Flights from Memphis to Detroit have a 88.9% on-time rate based on 4,700 flights. The average delay is 98.1 minutes. The best recent month was Dec 2023 with 98% on-time.
What is the cancellation rate for MEM to DTW? ▼
Over the last 24 months, 0.9% of flights on this route were cancelled (17 of 1,810 flights) and 0.2% were diverted.
How far is the flight from MEM to DTW? ▼
The flight distance from Memphis (MEM) to Detroit (DTW) is approximately 610 miles. This route is served by 24 carriers.
When is the best time to fly from MEM to DTW? ▼
The best recent month for on-time performance was Dec 2023 (98% on-time). The worst was Jan 2024 (72% on-time). Consider booking during months with historically better performance.

Airports on this route

MEM Airport

Memphis
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 MEM–DTW data

MEM–DTW runs 9.9 pts above the national 79% average; the remaining risk is month-to-month swing and carrier mix, not a weak headline rate.

  • Compare MEM and DTW airport profiles: delay causes and top routes differ even on the same corridor. MEM airport
  • If your dates flex, September (92.5% on-time) beats January (82.3%) on this corridor. Seasonal chart
  • 4 other routes post a similar 88.9% 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.