Richmond (RIC) to Chicago (MDW): On-Time Performance
Data through July 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 81% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (90% vs 62%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 81%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 12 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.6%
- 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. (93% on-time); avoid 7 p.m. departures (41%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 72% | 17 min |
| Tuesday | 92% | 4 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 92% | 3 min |
| Thursday | 79% | 13 min |
| Friday | 79% | 14 min |
| Saturday | 80% | 16 min |
| Sunday | 75% | 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 aircraft47%
- Airline operations36%
- National airspace system10%
- Weather7%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from RIC to MDW delayed?
- 19% of RIC–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 12 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from RIC to MDW?
- Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (93% on-time), while departures around 7 p.m. have the worst (41%). 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 19% of the time.
- How often are RIC to MDW flights cancelled?
- 0.6% 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 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 865 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.