New Orleans (MSY) to Chicago (MDW): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
New Orleans (MSY) to Chicago (MDW) effectively runs on two schedules. In February 2026, 93% of arrivals were on time; in March 2026 that fell to 58% — a 34-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 81% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (92% vs 60%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 81%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 11 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.0%
- Flights/day
- 2.8
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 18m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 825 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from MSY to MDW
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (99% on-time); avoid 6 p.m. departures (52%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 80% | 9 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 87% | 9 min |
| Wednesday | 85% | 9 min |
| Thursday | 80% | 10 min |
| Friday | 77% | 12 min |
| Saturday | 83% | 13 min |
| Sunday | 78% | 15 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft58%
- Airline operations25%
- National airspace system13%
- Weather4%
- Security1%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from MSY to MDW delayed?
- 19% of MSY–MDW 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 11 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from MSY to MDW?
- Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (99% 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 MSY to MDW?
- The scheduled MSY–MDW flight time averages 2h 18m over 825 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 19% of the time.
- How often are MSY to MDW 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 MSY to MDW?
- March 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 58% of arrivals on time. The best was February 2026 at 93%. If your dates are flexible, that 34-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 2,022 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.