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Route · MKE → DTW · 2020–2025 BTS data

Milwaukee to Detroit

According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking (BTS On-Time Performance total flights), MKE to DTW (Milwaukee to Detroit) ranks #1500 of 4927 tracked domestic routes by total flights (most flights = #1).

Data updated 2026-06-13

87.1%
On-time
+8.1 pts
vs US avg
93 min
Delay when late
8,178
Flights
#1500 of 4927
Corpus placement

Cancelled

0.6%

Best Month

Oct 2024 95%

Worst Month

Dec 2025 68%

Distance

237 mi

Carriers

22

Monthly Performance

Recent 24 months of route data.

Period Flights Delayed Cancelled Diverted Carriers
Dec 2025 121 39 3 0 DL,YX,OO
Nov 2025 115 16 3 0 OO,DL
Oct 2025 136 14 0 0 OO,DL
Sep 2025 112 9 0 0 OO,DL,NK
Aug 2025 128 19 1 0 OO,NK,DL
Jul 2025 132 14 2 0 OO,DL,NK
Jun 2025 144 26 0 0 DL,NK,OO
May 2025 126 21 0 0 DL,OO
Apr 2025 104 10 0 0 DL,OO
Mar 2025 85 10 0 1 DL,OO,YX
Feb 2025 83 25 0 0 OO,YX
Jan 2025 97 22 0 1 DL,OO,YX
Dec 2024 137 42 0 0 DL,OO,YX
Nov 2024 133 25 0 0 OO,DL,9E
Oct 2024 137 7 0 0 OO,DL,9E
Sep 2024 133 19 1 0 OO,9E,DL
Aug 2024 138 18 0 0 DL,OO
Jul 2024 136 23 3 0 DL,OO
Jun 2024 133 18 0 0 DL,OO
May 2024 124 15 0 0 9E,DL,OO
Apr 2024 120 21 0 0 9E,DL,OO
Mar 2024 115 25 0 0 DL,OO
Feb 2024 87 8 0 0 DL,OO,YX
Jan 2024 95 25 5 0 9E,DL,OO

MKE–DTW seasonal on-time pattern

Best: October (91.2%) · weakest: December (80.0%)

75%80%85%90%95% JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec 80%

Strongest calendar month

October

91.2% on-time · ~126 flights/mo

Busiest calendar month

June

~128 flights/mo avg

Weakest calendar month

December

80.0% on-time · ~118 flights/mo

Cancellation Rate

0.6%

18 of 2,871 flights

Diversion Rate

0.1%

2 of 2,871 flights

Explore origin & destination

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

MKE - Milwaukee

Full on-time, delay-cause, and seasonal performance for Milwaukee, WI.

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

Compare MKE vs DTW

Origin-hub reliability standing

Among MKE's stronger departures

MKE → DTW posts a 87.1% on-time rate, landing in the ≥85% band with 9 of 27 BTS-tracked routes leaving Milwaukee. The same hub also shows 18 mid-band and 0 challenged departures · fleet-wide on-time rank #613 of 4927 (highest on-time = #1).

What the Data Says About MKE to DTW

Milwaukee to Detroit (MKE to DTW) is one of the more dependable pairings in the BTS On-Time Performance dataset: a 87.1% on-time rate across 8,178 flights, with delays that do happen averaging 92.6 minutes. The corridor runs roughly 237 miles and is served by 22 carriers. Over the most recent 24 months, 18 of 2,871 flights were cancelled (0.6%) and 2 diverted (0.1%).

The monthly split is wide on this route: Oct 2024 posted the strongest performance at 95% on-time, while Dec 2025 came in at just 68% - a 27-point swing worth factoring into travel timing.

On the multi-year calendar, MKE–DTW peaks in October at 91.2% on-time while June carries the heaviest traffic (~128 flights per month) ; the softest month is December at 80.0%, a 11.2-point swing that repeats because the corridor's weather and holiday mix stays stable year to year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does MKE to DTW rank among US routes by traffic? ▼
According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking, MKE to DTW ranks #1500 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 MKE to DTW? ▼
Flights from Milwaukee to Detroit have a 87.1% on-time rate based on 8,178 flights. The average delay is 92.6 minutes. The best recent month was Oct 2024 with 95% on-time.
What is the cancellation rate for MKE to DTW? ▼
Over the last 24 months, 0.6% of flights on this route were cancelled (18 of 2,871 flights) and 0.1% were diverted.
How far is the flight from MKE to DTW? ▼
The flight distance from Milwaukee (MKE) to Detroit (DTW) is approximately 237 miles. This route is served by 22 carriers.
When is the best time to fly from MKE to DTW? ▼
The best recent month for on-time performance was Oct 2024 (95% on-time). The worst was Dec 2025 (68% on-time). Consider booking during months with historically better performance.

Airports on this route

MKE Airport

Milwaukee
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 MKE–DTW data

MKE–DTW runs 8.1 pts above the national 79% average; the remaining risk is month-to-month swing and carrier mix, not a weak headline rate.

  • Compare MKE and DTW airport profiles: delay causes and top routes differ even on the same corridor. MKE airport
  • If your dates flex, October (91.2% on-time) beats December (80.0%) on this corridor. Seasonal chart
  • 4 other routes post a similar 87.1% 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.