76% of flights from Detroit to Charleston arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is worse than the typical U.S. route. The 10 a.m. departures ran on time 88% of the time; the 3 p.m. ones 71%. 10% of flights arrived more than an hour late or not at all.
How late?
The on-time rate treats a flight 20 minutes late the same as one 5 hours late. Here's the split for DTW → CHS: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 52% of the time. About 1 in 12 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 66 three hours or more; 1.8% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early76%
- 15–30 min late7.8%
- 30–60 min late6.3%
- 1–2 hours late4.9%
- 2–3 hours late1.9%
- 3+ hours late1.5%
- Diverted0.2%
- Cancelled1.8%
Share of all 855 scheduled flights, past 12 months, by arrival time against schedule.
By airline
| Airline | Flights | On time | Cancelled | Typical arrival | 1h+ late | Avg when late | Operated by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Lines | 855 | 76% | 1.8% | −5 min | 8.3% | +69 min | Endeavor Air 44%, Delta Air Lines 30%, SkyWest 24%, Republic Airways 2% |
Airline = the name on the ticket. Regional flights (e.g. "Delta Connection") count under the ticketing airline, and the operator is listed.
Best time of day to fly
On-time rate by scheduled departure hour (local time at DTW). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
Last flight of the day
On DTW → CHS, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 2.5% of the time, against 1.2% for its earlier flights (2.1× as often). It arrived 3+ hours late 2.3% of the time (earlier flights: 1.0%). It matters more than the numbers suggest. Miss an earlier flight and there's another one that evening; miss the last one and you're usually waiting until morning.
| Airline | Last departure | Last: cancelled | Last: 3h+ late | Earlier: cancelled | Next morning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Lines | 8:30 p.m. | 2.5% | 2.3% | 1.2% | first flight 10:05 a.m. |
Last flight = the airline's last scheduled departure on this route that day, on days it flies the route at least twice; past 12 months. Times are typical scheduled times over the latest three months.
If you need to be in CHS tonight, book an earlier flight so there's a backup if it's cancelled.
By month
Each calendar month pooled over 2023–2026. Best: October (90%). Worst: July (69%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 129 | 73% | 1.6% |
| Tuesday | 112 | 79% | 0.0% |
| Wednesday | 110 | 76% | 2.7% |
| Thursday | 124 | 80% | 1.6% |
| Friday | 127 | 67% | 2.4% |
| Saturday | 126 | 82% | 2.4% |
| Sunday | 127 | 73% | 1.6% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: airline 6 · weather 5 · air traffic/airport 4
Month by month
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 26, 2026 | 3 | 33% | 0 |
| May 25, 2026 | 3 | 33% | 0 |
| Jul 30, 2026 | 3 | 33% | 0 |
| Sep 19, 2025 | 3 | 33% | 0 |
| May 22, 2026 | 3 | 33% | 0 |
Questions
How often are flights from DTW to CHS on time?
76% of 855 scheduled flights from Detroit, MI to Charleston, SC arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 1.8% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly DTW to CHS?
Flights scheduled to leave at 10 a.m. were the most reliable (88% on time). The 3 p.m. departures were the least (71%).
What month has the most delays from DTW to CHS?
July (69% on time). The best month is October (90%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from DTW to CHS more likely to be cancelled?
Yes. Each airline's last DTW–CHS flight of the day was cancelled 2.5% of the time over the past year, against 1.2% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- CHS → DTW (return)
- Detroit Metro (DTW) delays by hour
- Flights into Charleston (CHS)
- Delta Air Lines on-time record
- Connecting off this flight? Check the risk
Domestic flights by the airlines that report to the U.S. DOT, plus their regional partners. "On time" means arriving less than 15 minutes after schedule; cancelled and diverted flights count as not on time. Past performance is a guide, not a forecast. Method.