Austin (AUS) to Chicago (MDW): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Austin (AUS) to Chicago (MDW) effectively runs on two schedules. In October 2024, 89% of arrivals were on time; in March 2026 that fell to 60% — a 29-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 80% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (91% vs 65%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 80%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 12 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.8%
- Flights/day
- 3.7
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 31m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 972 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from AUS to MDW
Aim for departures around 8 a.m. (96% on-time); avoid 6 p.m. departures (63%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 78% | 15 min |
| Tuesday | 82% | 11 min |
| Wednesday | 82% | 10 min |
| Thursday | 80% | 11 min |
| Friday | 78% | 12 min |
| Saturdaybest | 88% | 9 min |
| Sunday | 75% | 18 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft62%
- Airline operations23%
- National airspace system12%
- Weather4%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from AUS to MDW delayed?
- 20% of AUS–MDW flights arrived 15 or more minutes late (the US DOT definition of a delay) between 2024-06 and 2026-05. The average arrival delay across completed flights was 12 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from AUS to MDW?
- Departures around 8 a.m. have the best record (96% on-time), while departures around 6 p.m. have the worst (63%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from AUS to MDW?
- The scheduled AUS–MDW flight time averages 2h 31m over 972 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 20% of the time.
- How often are AUS to MDW flights cancelled?
- 0.8% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from AUS to MDW?
- March 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 60% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 89%. If your dates are flexible, that 29-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 2,788 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.