Grand Rapids (GRR) to Chicago (MDW): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Grand Rapids (GRR) to Chicago (MDW) effectively runs on two schedules. In May 2025, 92% of arrivals were on time; in December 2025 that fell to 68% — a 24-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 (86% vs 71%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 80%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 11 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.2%
- Flights/day
- 2.6
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 3m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 137 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from GRR to MDW
Aim for departures around 7 a.m. (89% on-time); avoid 6 p.m. departures (65%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 78% | 11 min |
| Tuesday | 79% | 15 min |
| Wednesday | 81% | 10 min |
| Thursday | 81% | 9 min |
| Friday | 80% | 12 min |
| Saturdaybest | 82% | 15 min |
| Sunday | 79% | 9 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft43%
- Airline operations27%
- National airspace system29%
- Weather2%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from GRR to MDW delayed?
- 20% of GRR–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 11 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from GRR to MDW?
- Departures around 7 a.m. have the best record (89% on-time), while departures around 6 p.m. have the worst (65%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from GRR to MDW?
- The scheduled GRR–MDW flight time averages 1h 3m over 137 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 20% of the time.
- How often are GRR to MDW flights cancelled?
- 0.2% 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 GRR to MDW?
- December 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 68% of arrivals on time. The best was May 2025 at 92%. If your dates are flexible, that 24-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 1,874 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.