Atlanta (ATL) to Chicago (MDW): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
When you fly ATL to MDW matters as much as anything else about the booking: the route swung from 90% on-time in September 2025 to just 64% in May 2026. Across the full period the route averages 77% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (87% vs 66%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 77%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 16 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.5%
- Flights/day
- 9.7
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 57m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 591 mi
Best airline from ATL to MDW
3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Linesmost reliable | 82% | 12 min | 1.8% | 3,072 |
| Southwest Airlines | 78% | 14 min | 1.1% | 3,348 |
| Frontier Airlines | 65% | 33 min | 1.9% | 1,189 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from ATL to MDW
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (96% on-time); avoid 7 p.m. departures (53%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 75% | 20 min |
| Tuesday | 81% | 12 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 84% | 10 min |
| Thursday | 76% | 18 min |
| Friday | 74% | 19 min |
| Saturday | 79% | 13 min |
| Sunday | 73% | 19 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft47%
- Airline operations35%
- National airspace system14%
- Weather3%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from ATL to MDW delayed?
- 23% of ATL–MDW flights arrived 15 or more minutes late (the US DOT definition of a delay) between 2024-07 and 2026-07. The average arrival delay across completed flights was 16 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from ATL to MDW?
- Delta Air Lines has the best on-time record on this route at 82%, based on 3,072 flights. 3 airlines flew ATL–MDW frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from ATL to MDW?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (96% on-time), while departures around 7 p.m. have the worst (53%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from ATL to MDW?
- The scheduled ATL–MDW flight time averages 1h 57m over 591 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 23% of the time.
- How often are ATL to MDW flights cancelled?
- 1.5% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-07 and 2026-07, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from ATL to MDW?
- May 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 64% of arrivals on time. The best was September 2025 at 90%. If your dates are flexible, that 26-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 7,609 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.