Louisville (SDF) to Chicago (MDW): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Louisville (SDF) to Chicago (MDW) effectively runs on two schedules. In February 2026, 95% of arrivals were on time; in March 2026 that fell to 76% — a 18-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 86% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (92% vs 79%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 86%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 10 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.3%
- Flights/day
- 2.7
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 16m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 271 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from SDF to MDW
Aim for departures around 7 a.m. (93% on-time); avoid 8 p.m. departures (71%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 82% | 11 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 90% | 9 min |
| Wednesday | 88% | 8 min |
| Thursday | 84% | 13 min |
| Friday | 84% | 9 min |
| Saturday | 89% | 7 min |
| Sunday | 84% | 11 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft57%
- Airline operations20%
- National airspace system22%
- Weather1%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from SDF to MDW delayed?
- 14% of SDF–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 10 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from SDF to MDW?
- Departures around 7 a.m. have the best record (93% on-time), while departures around 8 p.m. have the worst (71%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from SDF to MDW?
- The scheduled SDF–MDW flight time averages 1h 16m over 271 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 14% of the time.
- How often are SDF to MDW flights cancelled?
- 1.3% 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 SDF to MDW?
- March 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 76% of arrivals on time. The best was February 2026 at 95%. If your dates are flexible, that 18-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 2,085 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.