Buffalo (BUF) to Chicago (MDW): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
The calendar drives reliability on BUF–MDW. October 2024 flights landed on schedule 95% of the time, but March 2026 dropped to 58% — a gap of 37 points. Across the full period the route averages 80% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (90% vs 69%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 80%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 13 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.0%
- Flights/day
- 2.3
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 41m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 468 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from BUF to MDW
Aim for departures around 7 a.m. (94% on-time); avoid 4 p.m. departures (60%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 82% | 14 min |
| Tuesday | 84% | 9 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 86% | 10 min |
| Thursday | 78% | 13 min |
| Friday | 79% | 13 min |
| Saturday | 75% | 14 min |
| Sunday | 76% | 16 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft51%
- Airline operations22%
- National airspace system26%
- Weather1%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from BUF to MDW delayed?
- 20% of BUF–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 13 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from BUF to MDW?
- Departures around 7 a.m. have the best record (94% on-time), while departures around 4 p.m. have the worst (60%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from BUF to MDW?
- The scheduled BUF–MDW flight time averages 1h 41m over 468 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 20% of the time.
- How often are BUF to MDW flights cancelled?
- 1% 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 BUF to MDW?
- March 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 58% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 95%. If your dates are flexible, that 37-point gap is worth planning around.
Explore related pages
More routes from BUF
Other ways to fly to Chicago (MDW)
Related guides
Based on 1,652 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.