Chicago (MDW) to Los Angeles (LAX): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Chicago (MDW) to Los Angeles (LAX) effectively runs on two schedules. In April 2025, 90% of arrivals were on time; in June 2026 that fell to 52% — a 38-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 74% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (83% vs 65%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 74%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 14 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.6%
- Flights/day
- 3.6
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 4h 27m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 1,751 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from MDW to LAX
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (92% on-time); avoid 6 p.m. departures (52%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 73% | 17 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 78% | 13 min |
| Wednesday | 77% | 11 min |
| Thursday | 72% | 16 min |
| Friday | 72% | 16 min |
| Saturday | 76% | 10 min |
| Sunday | 70% | 16 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft43%
- Airline operations40%
- National airspace system14%
- Weather3%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from MDW to LAX delayed?
- 26% of MDW–LAX 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 14 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from MDW to LAX?
- Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (92% on-time), while departures around 6 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 LAX?
- The scheduled MDW–LAX flight time averages 4h 27m over 1,751 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 26% of the time.
- How often are MDW to LAX flights cancelled?
- 0.6% 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 LAX?
- June 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 52% of arrivals on time. The best was April 2025 at 90%. If your dates are flexible, that 38-point gap is worth planning around.
Explore related pages
More routes from MDW
Other ways to fly to Los Angeles (LAX)
Related guides
Based on 2,799 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.