Chicago (MDW) to Houston (HOU): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Chicago (MDW) to Houston (HOU) effectively runs on two schedules. In October 2024, 92% of arrivals were on time; in July 2024 that fell to 42% — a 50-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 75% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (86% vs 63%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 75%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 13 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.2%
- Flights/day
- 5.0
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 41m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 937 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from MDW to HOU
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (93% on-time); avoid 9 p.m. departures (52%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 74% | 14 min |
| Tuesday | 78% | 12 min |
| Wednesday | 76% | 12 min |
| Thursday | 75% | 12 min |
| Friday | 73% | 15 min |
| Saturdaybest | 79% | 9 min |
| Sunday | 72% | 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 aircraft39%
- Airline operations35%
- National airspace system23%
- Weather4%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from MDW to HOU delayed?
- 25% of MDW–HOU 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 13 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from MDW to HOU?
- Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (93% on-time), while departures around 9 p.m. have the worst (52%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from MDW to HOU?
- The scheduled MDW–HOU flight time averages 2h 41m over 937 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 25% of the time.
- How often are MDW to HOU flights cancelled?
- 1.2% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from MDW to HOU?
- July 2024 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 42% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 92%. If your dates are flexible, that 50-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 3,638 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.