PlainFlights

Route · ORD → DTW · 2020–2025 BTS data

Chicago to Detroit

The ORD–DTW corridor (Chicago, IL → Detroit, MI) runs ahead of the national average, served by 55 carriers across roughly 235 miles.

Data updated 2026-06-13

81.6%
On-time
+2.6 pts
vs US avg
81 min
Delay when late
29,459
Flights

Cancelled

1.7%

Best Month

Feb 2024 90%

Worst Month

Dec 2025 55%

Distance

235 mi

Carriers

55

Monthly Performance

Recent 24 months of route data.

Period Flights Delayed Cancelled Diverted Carriers
Dec 2025 419 188 12 0 DL,YX,OH,MQ,UA,OO
Nov 2025 472 109 46 0 OO,UA,DL,MQ,AA,YX
Oct 2025 520 133 0 0 DL,OO,UA,YX,MQ
Sep 2025 482 99 1 0 MQ,UA,OO,DL,YX
Aug 2025 499 105 11 0 OO,YX,MQ,UA,DL
Jul 2025 536 187 14 0 OO,UA,YX,DL,MQ
Jun 2025 528 147 5 0 DL,OO,UA,YX,MQ
May 2025 531 91 4 0 OO,UA,YX,DL,MQ
Apr 2025 533 85 9 0 DL,MQ,OO,UA,YX
Mar 2025 494 104 2 0 AA,DL,YX,OO,UA,MQ
Feb 2025 390 78 12 1 AA,DL,OO,UA,YX,MQ
Jan 2025 424 92 2 0 AA,DL,YX,OO,UA,MQ
Dec 2024 429 93 10 0 AA,DL,MQ,OO,UA,YX
Nov 2024 458 53 2 0 OO,9E,UA,MQ,NK,YX,DL,AA
Oct 2024 553 70 0 0 UA,MQ,OO,DL,YX,NK,AA
Sep 2024 517 63 0 0 NK,OO,UA,AA,DL,MQ
Aug 2024 533 139 3 0 AA,DL,MQ,NK,YX,OO,UA
Jul 2024 472 129 16 1 9E,AA,DL,MQ,OO,UA,YX
Jun 2024 464 113 2 0 9E,AA,DL,MQ,OO,UA,YX
May 2024 485 135 10 0 AA,DL,MQ,YX,OO,UA
Apr 2024 464 91 1 0 AA,DL,MQ,OO,UA,YX
Mar 2024 450 73 0 0 AA,DL,MQ,OO,UA,YX
Feb 2024 382 40 3 1 AA,DL,MQ,OO,UA,YX
Jan 2024 356 130 26 1 9E,AA,DL,MQ,NK,YX,OO,UA

Cancellation Rate

1.7%

191 of 11,391 flights

Diversion Rate

0.0%

4 of 11,391 flights

What the Data Says About ORD to DTW

29,459 tracked flights put the ORD to DTW pairing (Chicago to Detroit) at a 81.6% on-time rate, squarely in line with the wider network. Delays that do occur run 81.2 minutes on average. Across the 235-mile route and its 55 carriers, the trailing 24 months show 1.7% cancelled and 0.0% diverted (11,391 flights sampled).

The monthly split is wide on this route: Feb 2024 posted the strongest performance at 90% on-time, while Dec 2025 came in at just 55% - a 34-point swing worth factoring into travel timing.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often are flights delayed from ORD to DTW?
Flights from Chicago to Detroit have a 81.6% on-time rate based on 29,459 flights. The average delay is 81.2 minutes. The best recent month was Feb 2024 with 90% on-time.
What is the cancellation rate for ORD to DTW?
Over the last 24 months, 1.7% of flights on this route were cancelled (191 of 11,391 flights) and 0.0% were diverted.
How far is the flight from ORD to DTW?
The flight distance from Chicago (ORD) to Detroit (DTW) is approximately 235 miles. This route is served by 55 carriers.
When is the best time to fly from ORD to DTW?
The best recent month for on-time performance was Feb 2024 (90% on-time). The worst was Dec 2025 (55% 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.