Historical on-time performance
Washington to Chicago
601 miData through May 2026Source: US DOT · BTS
Flights on DCA–MDW arrive on time 74% of the time over the last 12 months.
On-time rate74%arrived within 15 min
p90 delay45 min1 in 10 flights is worse (tail risk)
Cancelled2.6%of scheduled flights
based on 2,104 flights over the last 12 months. On-time means arriving within 15 minutes (BTS standard).
By airline
How each carrier compares
- Southwest AirlinesOn-time74%Medianon timep9045 minCancel2.6%Flights2,104
Why flights run late
Delay causes
- Airline23%
- Weather4%
- Air traffic (NAS)13%
- Late aircraft60%
- Security0%
Most delay minutes here are attributed to Late aircraft.
When flights don't go
Why flights were cancelled
- Airline9%
- Weather61%
- Air traffic (NAS)30%
- Security0%
Most cancellations here are attributed to Weather. Shares are among 54 cancellations with a reported cause (BTS reports causes from June 2003).
Over time
On-time trend
By season
On-time rate by month
When to fly
Best time to fly DCA → MDW
All airlines · rolling 36 months (2023-06 .. 2026-05).
Best time of day
Mornings are the most reliable time of day to fly this route — 90% on time.
- Mornings90% on time · p90 10 min · 2,035 flights
- Middays84% on time · p90 20 min · 1,211 flights
- Afternoons74% on time · p90 45 min · 1,092 flights
- Evenings67% on time · p90 70 min · 1,052 flights
- Overnights65% on time · p90 75 min · 947 flights
Best day of week
Saturdays are the most reliable day to fly this route — 85% on time.
- Saturdays85% on time · p90 20 min · 761 flights
- Tuesdays81% on time · p90 40 min · 932 flights
- Wednesdays81% on time · p90 35 min · 934 flights
- Thursdays78% on time · p90 40 min · 927 flights
- Mondays77% on time · p90 40 min · 928 flights
- Sundays75% on time · p90 45 min · 926 flights
- Fridays74% on time · p90 50 min · 929 flights
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