Chicago (MDW) to Philadelphia (PHL): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Chicago (MDW) to Philadelphia (PHL) effectively runs on two schedules. In February 2025, 87% of arrivals were on time; in July 2025 that fell to 63% — a 24-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 76% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (89% vs 66%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 76%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 15 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.0%
- Flights/day
- 4.2
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 56m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 668 mi
Best airline from MDW to PHL
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Airlinesmost reliable | 77% | 14 min | 0.9% | 2,842 |
| Frontier Airlines | 71% | 26 min | 2.3% | 355 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from MDW to PHL
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (96% on-time); avoid 9 p.m. departures (48%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 73% | 20 min |
| Tuesday | 79% | 12 min |
| Wednesday | 78% | 13 min |
| Thursday | 75% | 16 min |
| Friday | 73% | 18 min |
| Saturdaybest | 84% | 8 min |
| Sunday | 75% | 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 aircraft42%
- Airline operations27%
- National airspace system27%
- Weather4%
- Security1%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from MDW to PHL delayed?
- 24% of MDW–PHL 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 15 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from MDW to PHL?
- Southwest Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 77%, based on 2,842 flights. 2 airlines flew MDW–PHL frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from MDW to PHL?
- Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (96% on-time), while departures around 9 p.m. have the worst (48%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from MDW to PHL?
- The scheduled MDW–PHL flight time averages 1h 56m over 668 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 24% of the time.
- How often are MDW to PHL flights cancelled?
- 1% 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 PHL?
- July 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 63% of arrivals on time. The best was February 2025 at 87%. If your dates are flexible, that 24-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 3,197 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.