New York (LGA) to Chicago (MDW): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
The biggest risk when flying LGA to MDW isn't a late arrival — it's not departing at all. 3.7% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled, several times the typical US rate. When flights do go, 75% land on time, below the national average of 78%.
- On-time
- 75%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 18 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 3.7%
- Flights/day
- 6.5
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 28m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 725 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from LGA to MDW
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (92% on-time); avoid 9 p.m. departures (60%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 74% | 20 min |
| Tuesday | 77% | 16 min |
| Wednesday | 77% | 17 min |
| Thursday | 74% | 18 min |
| Friday | 75% | 20 min |
| Saturdaybest | 77% | 17 min |
| Sunday | 73% | 19 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft49%
- Airline operations21%
- National airspace system23%
- Weather6%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from LGA to MDW delayed?
- 25% of LGA–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 18 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from LGA to MDW?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (92% on-time), while departures around 9 p.m. have the worst (60%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from LGA to MDW?
- The scheduled LGA–MDW flight time averages 2h 28m over 725 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 25% of the time.
- How often are LGA to MDW flights cancelled?
- 3.7% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-07 and 2026-07 — several times the typical US rate, so consider earlier departures or backup options.
- What is the worst month to fly from LGA to MDW?
- December 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 56% of arrivals on time. The best was September 2024 at 89%. If your dates are flexible, that 33-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 4,956 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.