Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) to Chicago (MDW): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) to Chicago (MDW) is a thinner route than most in this dataset — 288 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
- 28 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 2.5%
- Flights/day
- 0.79
- 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. (87% on-time); avoid 9 p.m. departures (67%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 65% | 45 min |
| Tuesday | 74% | 12 min |
| Wednesday | 71% | 19 min |
| Thursdaybest | 77% | 17 min |
| Friday | 76% | 22 min |
| Saturday | 76% | 27 min |
| Sunday | 67% | 41 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft65%
- Airline operations25%
- National airspace system9%
- Weather2%
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 2024-07 and 2026-07. The average arrival delay across completed flights was 28 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DFW to MDW?
- Departures around 10 a.m. have the best record (87% on-time), while departures around 9 p.m. have the worst (67%). 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?
- 2.5% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-07 and 2026-07, 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
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Other ways to fly to Chicago (MDW)
Related guides
Based on 723 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.