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Route · SEA → DTW · 2020–2025 BTS data

Seattle to Detroit

The SEA–DTW corridor (Seattle, WA → Detroit, MI) runs ahead of the national average, served by 3 carriers across roughly 1,927 miles.

Data updated 2026-06-13

86.7%
On-time
+7.7 pts
vs US avg
63 min
Delay when late
11,564
Flights

Cancelled

0.7%

Best Month

Oct 2024 94%

Worst Month

Jul 2024 71%

Distance

1,927 mi

Carriers

3

Monthly Performance

Recent 24 months of route data.

Period Flights Delayed Cancelled Diverted Carriers
Dec 2025 164 33 2 0 DL,AS
Nov 2025 155 17 0 3 DL,AS
Oct 2025 157 12 0 0 AS,DL
Sep 2025 176 28 0 0 DL,AS
Aug 2025 214 53 2 0 AS,DL
Jul 2025 228 53 4 3 AS,DL
Jun 2025 218 40 1 0 AS,DL
May 2025 197 33 0 0 AS,DL
Apr 2025 147 16 0 0 DL,AS
Mar 2025 141 11 0 0 AS,DL
Feb 2025 108 9 1 0 AS,DL
Jan 2025 122 12 0 0 AS,DL
Dec 2024 153 16 0 0 AS,DL
Nov 2024 147 12 0 0 AS,DL
Oct 2024 161 10 0 0 AS,DL
Sep 2024 207 34 0 0 AS,DL
Aug 2024 223 49 1 1 AS,DL
Jul 2024 234 69 9 0 AS,DL
Jun 2024 222 47 0 0 AS,DL
May 2024 193 49 0 2 AS,DL
Apr 2024 147 13 1 0 AS,DL
Mar 2024 142 14 0 0 AS,DL
Feb 2024 120 8 0 0 AS,DL
Jan 2024 131 23 7 1 AS,DL

Cancellation Rate

0.7%

28 of 4,107 flights

Diversion Rate

0.2%

10 of 4,107 flights

What the Data Says About SEA to DTW

Seattle to Detroit (SEA to DTW) is one of the more dependable pairings in the BTS On-Time Performance dataset: a 86.7% on-time rate across 11,564 flights, with delays that do happen averaging 62.5 minutes. The corridor runs roughly 1,927 miles and is served by 3 carriers. Over the most recent 24 months, 28 of 4,107 flights were cancelled (0.7%) and 10 diverted (0.2%).

The monthly split is wide on this route: Oct 2024 posted the strongest performance at 94% on-time, while Jul 2024 came in at just 71% - a 23-point swing worth factoring into travel timing.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often are flights delayed from SEA to DTW?
Flights from Seattle to Detroit have a 86.7% on-time rate based on 11,564 flights. The average delay is 62.5 minutes. The best recent month was Oct 2024 with 94% on-time.
What is the cancellation rate for SEA to DTW?
Over the last 24 months, 0.7% of flights on this route were cancelled (28 of 4,107 flights) and 0.2% were diverted.
How far is the flight from SEA to DTW?
The flight distance from Seattle (SEA) to Detroit (DTW) is approximately 1,927 miles. This route is served by 3 carriers.
When is the best time to fly from SEA to DTW?
The best recent month for on-time performance was Oct 2024 (94% on-time). The worst was Jul 2024 (71% 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.