Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) to Chicago (MDW): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) to Chicago (MDW) is a thinner route than most in this dataset — 292 departures over the past year, roughly 6 a week — so treat these numbers as indicative rather than definitive. Of the flights that did operate, 72% arrived on time, noticeably below the national average of 78%.
- On-time
- 72%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 27 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 2.9%
- Flights/day
- 0.80
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 21m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 797 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DFW to MDW
Aim for departures around 10 a.m. (84% on-time); avoid 9 p.m. departures (66%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 65% | 46 min |
| Tuesday | 71% | 14 min |
| Wednesday | 68% | 21 min |
| Thursday | 79% | 15 min |
| Fridaybest | 79% | 19 min |
| Saturday | 72% | 30 min |
| Sunday | 67% | 36 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft66%
- Airline operations25%
- National airspace system7%
- Weather1%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DFW to MDW delayed?
- 28% of DFW–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 27 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DFW to MDW?
- Departures around 10 a.m. have the best record (84% on-time), while departures around 9 p.m. have the worst (66%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from DFW to MDW?
- The scheduled DFW–MDW flight time averages 2h 21m over 797 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 28% of the time.
- How often are DFW to MDW flights cancelled?
- 2.9% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05, slightly above the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from DFW to MDW?
- March 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 40% of arrivals on time. The best was September 2025 at 86%. If your dates are flexible, that 46-point gap is worth planning around.
Explore related pages
More routes from DFW
Other ways to fly to Chicago (MDW)
Related guides
Based on 718 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.