Chicago (MDW) to Houston (IAH): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Chicago (MDW) to Houston (IAH) is a thinner route than most in this dataset — 113 departures over the past year, roughly 2 a week — so treat these numbers as indicative rather than definitive. Of the flights that did operate, 66% arrived on time, noticeably below the national average of 78%.
- On-time
- 66%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 23 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.5%
- Flights/day
- 0.31
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 46m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 917 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from MDW to IAH
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (81% on-time); avoid 4 p.m. departures (55%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 51% | 38 min |
| Tuesday | 75% | 18 min |
| Wednesday | 56% | 31 min |
| Thursday | 67% | 17 min |
| Friday | 74% | 15 min |
| Saturday | 75% | 13 min |
| Sundaybest | 77% | 20 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft40%
- Airline operations30%
- National airspace system30%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from MDW to IAH delayed?
- 34% of MDW–IAH 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 23 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from MDW to IAH?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (81% on-time), while departures around 4 p.m. have the worst (55%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from MDW to IAH?
- The scheduled MDW–IAH flight time averages 2h 46m over 917 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 34% of the time.
- How often are MDW to IAH flights cancelled?
- 1.5% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-07 and 2026-07, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
- What day of the week is most reliable for MDW to IAH?
- Sunday flights have the best record at 77% on-time. Day-of-week differences on this route are meaningful — Monday trails at 51%.
Explore related pages
More routes from MDW
Other ways to fly to Houston (IAH)
Related guides
Based on 393 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.