Houston to Detroit (IAH–DTW) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections
No flights match your filters.
No scheduled airline flights on this route — it's flown by charter / private operators (). No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.
Most recently operated nonstop flights — the month shown is when each was last scheduled. Most destinations remain reachable with a connection.
No discontinued nonstop flights on record for this route.
IAH–DTW is served by 4 airlines with nonstop service. United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Frontier lead the route. The flight covers 1,076 miles in approximately 2h 51m. Beyond nonstop, 1-stop connecting options are also available.
Airline Landscape
| Airline | Freq/wk | Aircraft | Duration | Dep OTP | Alliance | Codeshares |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UA United Airlines Also: NZ, VA | 36 | 7M8, 7M9, E75L, E7W | 2h50-3h01 | Star Alliance | NZ, VA | |
| DL Delta Air Lines Also: AF, AM, KE, VS, WS | 27 | 319 | 2h48-2h49 | SkyTeam | AF, AM, KE, VS, WS | |
| F9 Frontier Also: Y4 | 7 | A21N | 2h55 | – | Y4 | |
| NK Spirit Airlines | 7 | 32B | 2h45 | – | – |
Weekly Schedule Pattern
Connection Landscape
On-Time Performance
Other ways to reach Detroit from Houston
| Metric | IAH→DTW | AUS→DTW |
|---|---|---|
| Distance from IAH | – | 140 mi |
| Nonstop airlines | 4 | 9 |
| Weekly flights | 166 | 99 |
| Flight time | 2h 51m | 2h 58m |
| Departure OTP | 50% | – |
Travel Essentials
IAH: CDT · DTW: EDT
When it's 6:00 PM in Houston, it's 7:00 PM in Detroit.
IAH has no direct rail link to downtown Houston. The IAH Express bus runs from Houston Amtrak/Greyhound station via Park & Ride to Terminal C (60–90 min, $1.25 with METRO Q card). This is the only transit option; Houston's rail network does not reach the airport.Taxis from downtown Houston cost $50–70 and take 40–60 minutes. Ride-hails (Uber, Lyft) are typically $35–55. IAH sits 23 miles north of downtown on the North Freeway (I-45); traffic is heavy during morning and evening rush. Remote economy parking lots serve all terminals via shuttle.
DTW has no rail. Ride-shares and taxis are the practical options. Taxis to downtown cost $45–60. Ride-shares run $30–45. The two terminals (McNamara and North) are connected by the automated people mover (MTC); both share the same baggage claim and ground transport facilities.Car rental desks are in the consolidated facility accessible from McNamara Terminal. SMART bus Route 261 serves the airport with transfers into the bus network. Allow extra time for I-94 congestion during peak hours.
Humid continental climate. Winters are cold and snowy (−8 to 0°C) from December through March. Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair generate significant lake-effect snow that can fall heavily with little warning. Ice storms and blizzards cause the most serious flight disruptions.
Summers are warm and humid (26–32°C) with frequent afternoon thunderstorms. Spring and fall are transitional with frost risk into April and from October. January and February are the highest disruption-risk months.
IAH–DTW Quick Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Flights from IAH to DTW
George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) are connected by nonstop service from United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier and Spirit Airlines. With 166 weekly departures, this is a heavily served route.
IAH to DTW Flight Duration and Schedule
Nonstop flight time from IAH to DTW is about 2 hours 51 minutes gate to gate. The route covers a distance of 1,076 miles (1,731 km). There are approximately 166 weekly flights outbound and 185 return, totaling 351 flights per week in both directions.
Connecting Options and Alternatives
1-stop connecting options are also available, commonly via Indianapolis, St. Louis Lambert and Louis Armstrong New Orleans. Two-stop connections are also available via intermediate hubs. Nearby alternative airports include Austin (AUS).