79% of flights from Portland to Detroit arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is about the typical U.S. route. The 11 a.m. departures ran on time 82% of the time; the 11 p.m. ones 76%. 6% 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 PDX → DTW: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 64% of the time. About 1 in 19 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 54 three hours or more; 1.1% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early79%
- 15–30 min late9.8%
- 30–60 min late5.0%
- 1–2 hours late2.9%
- 2–3 hours late0.5%
- 3+ hours late1.9%
- Diverted0.0%
- Cancelled1.1%
Share of all 377 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 | 377 | 79% | 1.1% | −5 min | 5.3% | +104 min | Delta Air Lines |
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 PDX). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
By month
Each calendar month pooled over 2023–2026. Best: October (93%). Worst: July (73%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 63 | — | — |
| Tuesday | 43 | — | — |
| Wednesday | 43 | — | — |
| Thursday | 60 | — | — |
| Friday | 62 | — | — |
| Saturday | 43 | — | — |
| Sunday | 63 | — | — |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: airline 4
Month by month
Not enough months with data to draw a trend.
Flight numbers on this route
Regular flights with at least 120 scheduled trips in the past year. Sorted by departure time.
| Flight | Departs | Flights | On time | Cancelled | Typical arrival | Operated by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DL 2171 | 11:55 a.m. | 150 | 83% | 0.0% | −3 min | Delta Air Lines |
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 24, 2025 | 3 | 100% | 0 |
Questions
How often are flights from PDX to DTW on time?
79% of 377 scheduled flights from Portland, OR to Detroit, MI arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 1.1% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly PDX to DTW?
Flights scheduled to leave at 11 a.m. were the most reliable (82% on time). The 11 p.m. departures were the least (76%).
What month has the most delays from PDX to DTW?
July (73% on time). The best month is October (93%), over 2023–2026.
Related
- DTW → PDX (return)
- Portland (PDX) delays by hour
- Flights into Detroit Metro (DTW)
- 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.