Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW): Delays & On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) is a tale of two seasons: departures ran 85% on-time in November 2024 but sank to 59% in July 2026. Across the year it averages 74% against a national 78%, over roughly 202 departures a day to 87 destinations.
- Departures on-time
- 74%
- left <15 min late
- Avg dep delay
- 16 min
- Arrivals on-time
- 79%
- Cancelled
- 1.2%
- Destinations
- 87
- nonstop
- Airlines
- 5
Plan your departure from MDW
The choices most likely to improve your odds, based on this airport’s historical record.
- Best departure time
- Around 6 a.m.
- 94% on-time
- Best day to fly
- Tuesday
- 81% on-time
- Cancellation risk
- 1.2%
- below the US average
Monthly on-time trend
Best time of day to depart from MDW
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 75% | 16 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 81% | 12 min |
| Wednesday | 80% | 12 min |
| Thursday | 75% | 15 min |
| Friday | 75% | 16 min |
| Saturday | 79% | 11 min |
| Sunday | 73% | 17 min |
Busiest routes from MDW
Where flights into MDW come from
| Route | Flights/12mo | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|---|
| ATL (Atlanta) → MDW | 3,526 | 77% | 16 min |
| MCO (Orlando) → MDW | 2,760 | 74% | 17 min |
| PHX (Phoenix) → MDW | 2,757 | 76% | 13 min |
| MSP (Minneapolis) → MDW | 2,396 | 81% | 12 min |
| LGA (New York) → MDW | 2,385 | 75% | 18 min |
| LAS (Las Vegas) → MDW | 2,300 | 78% | 12 min |
| DEN (Denver) → MDW | 2,225 | 75% | 15 min |
| DAL (Dallas) → MDW | 2,179 | 73% | 17 min |
What causes delays at MDW
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT, weighted across routes departing MDW.
- Late-arriving aircraft43%
- Airline operations33%
- National airspace system20%
- Weather4%
Alternative airports near Chicago
Other airports within 120 miles, compared on departure reliability.
| Airport | Distance | On-time departures | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|---|
| ORD — Chicago O'Hare International Airport | 15 mi | 75% | 20 min |
| SBN — South Bend International Airport | 74 mi | 77% | 24 min |
| RFD — Chicago Rockford International Airport | 75 mi | 74% | 28 min |
| MKE — General Mitchell International Airport | 81 mi | 81% | 16 min |
| LAF — Purdue University Airport | 104 mi | 79% | 33 min |
Compare the airport-level record first, then check the exact route you plan to book.
Airline performance at MDW
| Airline | On-time departures | Avg delay | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Lines | 84% | 15 min | 3,072 |
| SkyWest Airlines | 82% | 16 min | 3,157 |
| Frontier Airlines | 78% | 20 min | 5,038 |
| Allegiant Air | 78% | 31 min | 802 |
| Southwest Airlines | 74% | 15 min | 145,134 |
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights delayed at MDW?
- 26% of departures from Chicago Midway International Airport left 15+ minutes late between 2024-07 and 2026-07, with an average departure delay of 16 minutes. The national on-time average over the same period was 78%.
- What is the best time of day to depart from MDW?
- Flights scheduled around 6 a.m. depart on time 94% of the time at MDW, versus 49% around 9 p.m.. Booking before noon is the usual rule of thumb here.
- What is the worst month for delays at MDW?
- In this dataset, July 2026 was the weakest month at MDW, with 59% of departures on time.
- How often are flights cancelled at MDW?
- 1.2% of scheduled departures from MDW were cancelled in this period, compared with a national rate of 1.6%.
Popular route pages from this airport
Related guides
Based on 157,203 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.