Chicago (MDW) to Washington (DCA): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Chicago (MDW) to Washington (DCA) effectively runs on two schedules. In September 2024, 88% of arrivals were on time; in February 2025 that fell to 59% — a 29-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 73% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (86% vs 60%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 73%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 17 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.8%
- Flights/day
- 5.8
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 49m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 601 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from MDW to DCA
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (96% on-time); avoid 6 p.m. departures (47%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 72% | 18 min |
| Tuesday | 76% | 15 min |
| Wednesday | 77% | 14 min |
| Thursday | 72% | 19 min |
| Friday | 69% | 20 min |
| Saturdaybest | 80% | 13 min |
| Sunday | 67% | 18 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft34%
- Airline operations26%
- National airspace system37%
- Weather3%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from MDW to DCA delayed?
- 27% of MDW–DCA 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 17 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from MDW to DCA?
- Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (96% on-time), while departures around 6 p.m. have the worst (47%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from MDW to DCA?
- The scheduled MDW–DCA flight time averages 1h 49m over 601 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 27% of the time.
- How often are MDW to DCA flights cancelled?
- 1.8% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-07 and 2026-07, slightly above the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from MDW to DCA?
- February 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 59% of arrivals on time. The best was September 2024 at 88%. If your dates are flexible, that 29-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 4,381 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.