Indianapolis (IND) to Chicago (MDW): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
On this route, when you fly matters more than who you fly. Book the morning: morning departures from IND reach MDW on time 89% of the time, versus 58% later in the day. Overall the route posts a 76% on-time rate, in line with the national average.
- On-time
- 76%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 12 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.8%
- Flights/day
- 1.7
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 4m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 162 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from IND to MDW
Aim for departures around 7 a.m. (90% on-time); avoid 6 p.m. departures (58%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 69% | 11 min |
| Tuesday | 74% | 13 min |
| Wednesday | 81% | 10 min |
| Thursdaybest | 82% | 10 min |
| Friday | 70% | 13 min |
| Saturday | 78% | 9 min |
| Sunday | 77% | 14 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft45%
- Airline operations25%
- National airspace system30%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from IND to MDW delayed?
- 24% of IND–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 12 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from IND to MDW?
- Departures around 7 a.m. have the best record (90% on-time), while departures around 6 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 IND to MDW?
- The scheduled IND–MDW flight time averages 1h 4m over 162 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 24% of the time.
- How often are IND to MDW flights cancelled?
- 0.8% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
- What day of the week is most reliable for IND to MDW?
- Thursday flights have the best record at 82% on-time. Day-of-week differences on this route are meaningful — Monday trails at 69%.
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Based on 611 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.