Phoenix (PHX) to Chicago (MDW): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
The calendar drives reliability on PHX–MDW. November 2024 flights landed on schedule 89% of the time, but July 2026 dropped to 55% — a gap of 34 points. Across the full period the route averages 76% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (88% vs 63%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 76%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 13 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.7%
- Flights/day
- 7.6
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 3h 18m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 1,444 mi
Best airline from PHX to MDW
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Airlinesmost reliable | 76% | 13 min | 0.7% | 5,636 |
| Frontier Airlines | 72% | 22 min | 1.2% | 344 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from PHX to MDW
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (94% on-time); avoid 8 p.m. departures (58%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 73% | 15 min |
| Tuesday | 78% | 11 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 81% | 10 min |
| Thursday | 75% | 16 min |
| Friday | 76% | 14 min |
| Saturday | 79% | 10 min |
| Sunday | 74% | 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 aircraft45%
- Airline operations39%
- National airspace system13%
- Weather3%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from PHX to MDW delayed?
- 24% of PHX–MDW 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 13 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from PHX to MDW?
- Southwest Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 76%, based on 5,636 flights. 2 airlines flew PHX–MDW frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from PHX to MDW?
- Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (94% on-time), while departures around 8 p.m. have the worst (58%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from PHX to MDW?
- The scheduled PHX–MDW flight time averages 3h 18m over 1,444 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 24% of the time.
- How often are PHX to MDW flights cancelled?
- 0.7% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-07 and 2026-07, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from PHX to MDW?
- July 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 55% of arrivals on time. The best was November 2024 at 89%. If your dates are flexible, that 34-point gap is worth planning around.
Explore related pages
More routes from PHX
Other ways to fly to Chicago (MDW)
Related guides
Based on 5,980 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.