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Route · SBN → DTW · 2020–2025 BTS data

South Bend to Detroit

According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking (BTS On-Time Performance total flights), SBN to DTW (South Bend to Detroit) ranks #3191 of 4927 tracked domestic routes by total flights (most flights = #1).

Data updated 2026-06-13

87.3%
On-time
+8.3 pts
vs US avg
111 min
Delay when late
3,299
Flights
#3191 of 4927
Corpus placement

Cancelled

0.9%

Best Month

Aug 2025 92%

Worst Month

Jun 2025 81%

Distance

157 mi

Carriers

4

Monthly Performance

Recent 24 months of route data.

Period Flights Delayed Cancelled Diverted Carriers
Dec 2025 50 26 1 0 OO
Nov 2025 58 10 4 0 OO
Oct 2025 61 6 0 0 OO
Sep 2025 60 6 0 0 OO
Aug 2025 62 5 0 0 OO
Jul 2025 62 11 0 1 OO
Jun 2025 52 10 0 0 OO
May 2025 31 2 1 0 OO
Apr 2025 30 5 0 0 OO
Mar 2025 31 3 0 0 OO
Jan 2025 31 6 0 0 OO
Dec 2024 32 7 0 0 9E,OO
Nov 2024 30 3 0 0 OO
Oct 2024 31 5 0 0 OO
Sep 2024 30 5 0 0 OO
Aug 2024 31 10 0 0 OO
Jul 2024 31 11 0 0 OO
Jun 2024 30 20 0 0 OO
May 2024 31 9 0 0 OO
Apr 2024 30 4 0 0 OO
Mar 2024 31 5 0 0 OO
Jan 2024 31 9 2 0 OO
Dec 2023 31 6 0 0 OO
Nov 2023 30 4 0 0 OO

SBN–DTW seasonal on-time pattern

Best: September (92.6%) · weakest: June (79.7%)

75%80%85%90%95% JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec 81%

Strongest calendar month

September

92.6% on-time · ~60 flights/mo

Busiest calendar month

February

~93 flights/mo avg

Weakest calendar month

June

79.7% on-time · ~46 flights/mo

Cancellation Rate

0.9%

8 of 927 flights

Diversion Rate

0.1%

1 of 927 flights

Explore origin & destination

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

SBN - South Bend

Full on-time, delay-cause, and seasonal performance for South Bend, IN.

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

Compare SBN vs DTW

Origin-hub reliability standing

Among SBN's stronger departures

SBN → DTW posts a 87.3% on-time rate, landing in the ≥85% band with 2 of 6 BTS-tracked routes leaving South Bend. The same hub also shows 4 mid-band and 0 challenged departures · fleet-wide on-time rank #576 of 4927 (highest on-time = #1).

What the Data Says About SBN to DTW

South Bend to Detroit (SBN to DTW) is one of the more dependable pairings in the BTS On-Time Performance dataset: a 87.3% on-time rate across 3,299 flights, with delays that do happen averaging 110.8 minutes. The corridor runs roughly 157 miles and is served by 4 carriers. Over the most recent 24 months, 8 of 927 flights were cancelled (0.9%) and 1 diverted (0.1%).

Monthly performance varies moderately here: Aug 2025 was the strongest month at 92% on-time versus Jun 2025 at 81%, a 11-point difference.

On the multi-year calendar, SBN–DTW peaks in September at 92.6% on-time while February carries the heaviest traffic (~93 flights per month) ; the softest month is June at 79.7%, a 12.9-point swing that repeats because the corridor's weather and holiday mix stays stable year to year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does SBN to DTW rank among US routes by traffic? ▼
According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking, SBN to DTW ranks #3191 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 SBN to DTW? ▼
Flights from South Bend to Detroit have a 87.3% on-time rate based on 3,299 flights. The average delay is 110.8 minutes. The best recent month was Aug 2025 with 92% on-time.
What is the cancellation rate for SBN to DTW? ▼
Over the last 24 months, 0.9% of flights on this route were cancelled (8 of 927 flights) and 0.1% were diverted.
How far is the flight from SBN to DTW? ▼
The flight distance from South Bend (SBN) to Detroit (DTW) is approximately 157 miles. This route is served by 4 carriers.
When is the best time to fly from SBN to DTW? ▼
The best recent month for on-time performance was Aug 2025 (92% on-time). The worst was Jun 2025 (81% on-time). Consider booking during months with historically better performance.

Airports on this route

SBN Airport

South Bend
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 SBN–DTW data

SBN–DTW runs 8.3 pts above the national 79% average; the remaining risk is month-to-month swing and carrier mix, not a weak headline rate.

  • Compare SBN and DTW airport profiles: delay causes and top routes differ even on the same corridor. SBN airport
  • If your dates flex, September (92.6% on-time) beats June (79.7%) on this corridor. Seasonal chart
  • 4 other routes post a similar 87.3% 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.