Chicago (MDW) to Louisville (SDF): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Chicago (MDW) to Louisville (SDF) effectively runs on two schedules. In November 2024, 91% of arrivals were on time; in July 2025 that fell to 62% — a 29-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 80% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (90% vs 69%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 80%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 12 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.0%
- Flights/day
- 2.7
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 13m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 271 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from MDW to SDF
Aim for departures around 8 a.m. (93% on-time); avoid 10 p.m. departures (50%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 79% | 13 min |
| Tuesday | 83% | 13 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 84% | 9 min |
| Thursday | 78% | 11 min |
| Friday | 76% | 13 min |
| Saturday | 83% | 12 min |
| Sunday | 78% | 13 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft56%
- Airline operations31%
- National airspace system10%
- Weather3%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from MDW to SDF delayed?
- 20% of MDW–SDF 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 12 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from MDW to SDF?
- Departures around 8 a.m. have the best record (93% on-time), while departures around 10 p.m. have the worst (50%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from MDW to SDF?
- The scheduled MDW–SDF flight time averages 1h 13m over 271 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 20% of the time.
- How often are MDW to SDF 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 SDF?
- July 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 62% of arrivals on time. The best was November 2024 at 91%. If your dates are flexible, that 29-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 2,006 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.