New York (LGA) to Chicago (MDW): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
The biggest risk when flying LGA to MDW isn't a late arrival — it's not departing at all. 3.1% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled, several times the typical US rate. When flights do go, 76% land on time, below the national average of 78%.
- On-time
- 76%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 17 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 3.1%
- 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 (62%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 75% | 19 min |
| Tuesday | 77% | 15 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 78% | 16 min |
| Thursday | 75% | 18 min |
| Friday | 75% | 19 min |
| Saturday | 78% | 15 min |
| Sunday | 74% | 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 aircraft50%
- Airline operations20%
- National airspace system23%
- Weather6%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from LGA to MDW delayed?
- 24% of LGA–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 17 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 (62%). 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 24% of the time.
- How often are LGA to MDW flights cancelled?
- 3.1% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05 — 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 4,733 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.