Chicago (MDW) to New York (LGA): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Delays are only half the story on MDW–LGA: 3% of its scheduled flights were outright cancelled, well above the US norm, so a backup plan matters more here than on most routes. When flights do go, 73% land on time, below the national average of 78%.
- On-time
- 73%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 17 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 3.0%
- Flights/day
- 6.5
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 5m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 725 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from MDW to LGA
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (93% on-time); avoid 5 p.m. departures (56%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 72% | 18 min |
| Tuesday | 75% | 16 min |
| Wednesday | 74% | 18 min |
| Thursday | 70% | 19 min |
| Friday | 71% | 17 min |
| Saturdaybest | 79% | 10 min |
| Sunday | 69% | 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 aircraft25%
- Airline operations27%
- National airspace system45%
- Weather2%
- Security1%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from MDW to LGA delayed?
- 28% of MDW–LGA 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 LGA?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (93% on-time), while departures around 5 p.m. have the worst (56%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from MDW to LGA?
- The scheduled MDW–LGA flight time averages 2h 5m over 725 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 28% of the time.
- How often are MDW to LGA flights cancelled?
- 3% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-07 and 2026-07 — several times the typical US rate, so consider earlier departures or backup options.
- What is the worst month to fly from MDW to LGA?
- March 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 51% of arrivals on time. The best was November 2024 at 90%. If your dates are flexible, that 39-point gap is worth planning around.
Explore related pages
More routes from MDW
Other ways to fly to New York (LGA)
Related guides
Based on 4,956 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.