73% of flights from Detroit to Lansing 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 78% of the time; the 9 p.m. ones 65%. 14% 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 → LAN: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 43% of the time. About 1 in 8 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 29 three hours or more; 1.0% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early73%
- 15–30 min late6.5%
- 30–60 min late6.3%
- 1–2 hours late6.3%
- 2–3 hours late3.1%
- 3+ hours late3.5%
- Diverted0.0%
- Cancelled1.0%
Share of all 1,040 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 | 1,040 | 73% | 1.0% | −8 min | 12.8% | +100 min | SkyWest 80%, Endeavor Air 20% |
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 → LAN, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 1.1% of the time, against 0.9% for its earlier flights, about the same. It arrived 3+ hours late 4.1% of the time (earlier flights: 3.3%). 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 | 10:56 p.m. | 1.1% | 4.1% | 0.9% | first flight 10:10 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.
By month
Each calendar month pooled over 2023–2026. Best: October (88%). Worst: January (58%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 156 | 78% | 0.0% |
| Tuesday | 154 | 73% | 0.7% |
| Wednesday | 154 | 71% | 1.3% |
| Thursday | 153 | 77% | 0.0% |
| Friday | 152 | 71% | 2.0% |
| Saturday | 121 | 78% | 1.7% |
| Sunday | 150 | 66% | 1.3% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: weather 5 · airline 4 · air traffic/airport 1
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 4687 | 10:05 a.m. | 122 | 74% | 3.3% | −11 min | Endeavor Air |
| DL 3684 | 10:55 p.m. | 294 | 75% | 1.0% | −5 min | SkyWest |
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 17, 2026 | 3 | 0% | 0 |
| May 19, 2026 | 3 | 0% | 0 |
| Nov 30, 2025 | 3 | 0% | 1 |
| Dec 7, 2025 | 3 | 0% | 0 |
| Dec 5, 2025 | 3 | 0% | 1 |
Nearby airport alternatives
Other ways to make the same trip, using airports within 60 miles of Detroit or Lansing. None has been clearly more reliable than DTW → LAN.
| Route | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| DTW → LAN (this route) | 1,040 | 73% | 1.0% |
| DTW → MBS Detroit Metro to MBS | 1,291 | 76% | 1.2% |
| DTW → GRR Detroit Metro to Gerald R. Ford | 2,315 | 73% | 1.0% |
Questions
How often are flights from DTW to LAN on time?
73% of 1,040 scheduled flights from Detroit, MI to Lansing, MI arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 1.0% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly DTW to LAN?
Flights scheduled to leave at 10 a.m. were the most reliable (78% on time). The 9 p.m. departures were the least (65%).
What month has the most delays from DTW to LAN?
January (58% on time). The best month is October (88%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from DTW to LAN more likely to be cancelled?
Not much. Each airline's last DTW–LAN flight of the day was cancelled 1.1% of the time over the past year, against 0.9% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- LAN → DTW (return)
- Detroit Metro (DTW) delays by hour
- Flights into Capital Region (LAN)
- 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.