Richmond (RIC) to Chicago (MDW): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Richmond (RIC) to Chicago (MDW) effectively runs on two schedules. In November 2024, 97% of arrivals were on time; in December 2025 that fell to 61% — a 35-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 83% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (90% vs 68%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 83%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 11 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.5%
- Flights/day
- 1.1
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 3m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 629 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from RIC to MDW
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (95% on-time); avoid 7 p.m. departures (51%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 76% | 16 min |
| Tuesday | 91% | 5 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 91% | 3 min |
| Thursday | 82% | 11 min |
| Friday | 81% | 13 min |
| Saturday | 84% | 12 min |
| Sunday | 77% | 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 aircraft47%
- Airline operations36%
- National airspace system11%
- Weather6%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from RIC to MDW delayed?
- 17% of RIC–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 RIC to MDW?
- Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (95% on-time), while departures around 7 p.m. have the worst (51%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from RIC to MDW?
- The scheduled RIC–MDW flight time averages 2h 3m over 629 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 17% of the time.
- How often are RIC to MDW flights cancelled?
- 0.5% 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 RIC to MDW?
- December 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 61% of arrivals on time. The best was November 2024 at 97%. If your dates are flexible, that 35-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 801 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.