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Route · MSP → DTW · 2020–2025 BTS data

Minneapolis to Detroit

According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking (BTS On-Time Performance total flights), MSP to DTW (Minneapolis to Detroit) ranks #810 of 4927 tracked domestic routes by total flights (most flights = #1).

Data updated 2026-06-13

86.8%
On-time
+7.8 pts
vs US avg
67 min
Delay when late
12,976
Flights
#810 of 4927
Corpus placement

Cancelled

0.4%

Best Month

Feb 2024 95%

Worst Month

Dec 2025 68%

Distance

528 mi

Carriers

5

Monthly Performance

Recent 24 months of route data.

Period Flights Delayed Cancelled Diverted Carriers
Dec 2025 156 50 2 0 DL
Nov 2025 149 19 1 0 DL
Oct 2025 156 17 0 0 DL
Sep 2025 154 23 0 0 DL,NK
Aug 2025 190 36 0 0 NK,DL
Jul 2025 196 42 0 2 DL,NK
Jun 2025 186 29 0 0 DL,NK
May 2025 175 28 1 0 DL,NK
Apr 2025 180 25 0 0 NK,DL
Mar 2025 183 31 0 0 DL,NK
Feb 2025 161 33 1 0 DL,NK
Jan 2025 194 23 2 0 DL,NK
Dec 2024 210 51 0 0 DL,NK
Nov 2024 198 15 0 0 NK,DL
Oct 2024 201 11 0 0 DL,NK
Sep 2024 201 14 0 0 DL,NK
Aug 2024 229 50 1 1 DL,NK
Jul 2024 209 61 6 0 DL,NK
Jun 2024 199 45 1 1 DL,NK
May 2024 183 20 0 0 DL,NK
Apr 2024 172 15 0 0 DL,NK
Mar 2024 185 28 0 0 DL,NK
Feb 2024 161 8 0 0 DL,NK
Jan 2024 179 28 1 0 DL,NK

MSP–DTW seasonal on-time pattern

Best: October (91.9%) · weakest: December (77.4%)

75%80%85%90%95% JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec 77.4%

Strongest calendar month

October

91.9% on-time · ~184 flights/mo

Busiest calendar month

July

~200 flights/mo avg

Weakest calendar month

December

77.4% on-time · ~178 flights/mo

Cancellation Rate

0.4%

16 of 4,407 flights

Diversion Rate

0.1%

4 of 4,407 flights

Explore origin & destination

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

MSP - Minneapolis

Full on-time, delay-cause, and seasonal performance for Minneapolis, MN.

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

Compare MSP vs DTW

Origin-hub reliability standing

Among MSP's stronger departures

MSP → DTW posts a 86.8% on-time rate, landing in the ≥85% band with 42 of 99 BTS-tracked routes leaving Minneapolis. The same hub also shows 57 mid-band and 0 challenged departures · fleet-wide on-time rank #679 of 4927 (highest on-time = #1).

What the Data Says About MSP to DTW

Minneapolis to Detroit (MSP to DTW) is one of the more dependable pairings in the BTS On-Time Performance dataset: a 86.8% on-time rate across 12,976 flights, with delays that do happen averaging 66.8 minutes. The corridor runs roughly 528 miles and is served by 5 carriers. Over the most recent 24 months, 16 of 4,407 flights were cancelled (0.4%) and 4 diverted (0.1%).

The monthly split is wide on this route: Feb 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, MSP–DTW peaks in October at 91.9% on-time while July carries the heaviest traffic (~200 flights per month) ; the softest month is December at 77.4%, a 14.5-point swing that repeats because the corridor's weather and holiday mix stays stable year to year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does MSP to DTW rank among US routes by traffic? ▼
According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking, MSP to DTW ranks #810 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 MSP to DTW? ▼
Flights from Minneapolis to Detroit have a 86.8% on-time rate based on 12,976 flights. The average delay is 66.8 minutes. The best recent month was Feb 2024 with 95% on-time.
What is the cancellation rate for MSP to DTW? ▼
Over the last 24 months, 0.4% of flights on this route were cancelled (16 of 4,407 flights) and 0.1% were diverted.
How far is the flight from MSP to DTW? ▼
The flight distance from Minneapolis (MSP) to Detroit (DTW) is approximately 528 miles. This route is served by 5 carriers.
When is the best time to fly from MSP to DTW? ▼
The best recent month for on-time performance was Feb 2024 (95% on-time). The worst was Dec 2025 (68% on-time). Consider booking during months with historically better performance.

Airports on this route

MSP Airport

Minneapolis
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 MSP–DTW data

MSP–DTW runs 7.8 pts above the national 79% average; the remaining risk is month-to-month swing and carrier mix, not a weak headline rate.

  • Compare MSP and DTW airport profiles: delay causes and top routes differ even on the same corridor. MSP airport
  • If your dates flex, October (91.9% on-time) beats December (77.4%) on this corridor. Seasonal chart
  • 4 other routes post a similar 86.8% 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.