Chicago (MDW) to Boston (BOS): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Chicago (MDW) to Boston (BOS) effectively runs on two schedules. In January 2025, 90% of arrivals were on time; in March 2026 that fell to 55% — a 36-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 71% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (88% vs 62%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 71%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 19 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.8%
- Flights/day
- 3.7
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 16m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 861 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from MDW to BOS
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (96% on-time); avoid 4 p.m. departures (41%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 65% | 23 min |
| Tuesday | 75% | 16 min |
| Wednesday | 73% | 16 min |
| Thursday | 67% | 23 min |
| Friday | 71% | 22 min |
| Saturdaybest | 81% | 11 min |
| Sunday | 67% | 21 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft32%
- Airline operations31%
- National airspace system35%
- Weather2%
- Security1%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from MDW to BOS delayed?
- 29% of MDW–BOS 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 19 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from MDW to BOS?
- Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (96% on-time), while departures around 4 p.m. have the worst (41%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from MDW to BOS?
- The scheduled MDW–BOS flight time averages 2h 16m over 861 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 29% of the time.
- How often are MDW to BOS flights cancelled?
- 0.8% 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 MDW to BOS?
- March 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 55% of arrivals on time. The best was January 2025 at 90%. If your dates are flexible, that 36-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 2,873 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.