Detroit (DTW) to Chicago (MDW): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
When you fly DTW to MDW matters as much as anything else about the booking: the route swung from 94% on-time in October 2024 to just 55% in June 2026. Across the full period the route averages 79% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (82% vs 72%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 79%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 14 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.7%
- Flights/day
- 3.4
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 14m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 228 mi
Best airline from DTW to MDW
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Airlinesmost reliable | 79% | 13 min | 0.9% | 2,218 |
| SkyWest Airlines | 79% | 15 min | 0.2% | 1,259 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DTW to MDW
Aim for departures around 7 a.m. (89% on-time); avoid 8 p.m. departures (58%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 78% | 14 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 83% | 14 min |
| Wednesday | 78% | 12 min |
| Thursday | 74% | 17 min |
| Friday | 78% | 12 min |
| Saturday | 82% | 12 min |
| Sunday | 79% | 15 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft26%
- Airline operations42%
- National airspace system25%
- Weather7%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DTW to MDW delayed?
- 21% of DTW–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 14 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from DTW to MDW?
- Southwest Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 79%, based on 2,218 flights. 2 airlines flew DTW–MDW frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DTW to MDW?
- Departures around 7 a.m. have the best record (89% on-time), while departures around 8 p.m. have the worst (58%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from DTW to MDW?
- The scheduled DTW–MDW flight time averages 1h 14m over 228 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 21% of the time.
- How often are DTW to MDW flights cancelled?
- 0.7% 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 DTW to MDW?
- June 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 55% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 94%. If your dates are flexible, that 39-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 3,477 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.