Chicago (MDW) to New Orleans (MSY): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Chicago (MDW) to New Orleans (MSY) effectively runs on two schedules. In October 2024, 97% of arrivals were on time; in July 2025 that fell to 56% — a 40-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 77% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (87% vs 69%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 77%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 14 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.9%
- Flights/day
- 2.8
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 18m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 825 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from MDW to MSY
Aim for departures around 10 a.m. (92% on-time); avoid 3 p.m. departures (54%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 77% | 13 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 83% | 14 min |
| Wednesday | 80% | 13 min |
| Thursday | 76% | 12 min |
| Friday | 72% | 17 min |
| Saturday | 82% | 11 min |
| Sunday | 73% | 17 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft53%
- Airline operations30%
- National airspace system13%
- Weather3%
- Security1%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from MDW to MSY delayed?
- 23% of MDW–MSY 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 14 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from MDW to MSY?
- Departures around 10 a.m. have the best record (92% on-time), while departures around 3 p.m. have the worst (54%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from MDW to MSY?
- The scheduled MDW–MSY flight time averages 2h 18m over 825 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 23% of the time.
- How often are MDW to MSY flights cancelled?
- 0.9% 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 MSY?
- July 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 56% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 97%. If your dates are flexible, that 40-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 2,020 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.