Best Time to Fly DCA to MDW: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Ronald Reagan Washington National → Chicago Midway International
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
Over the last 12 months, 77.2% of Washington (DCA) to Chicago (MDW) flights arrived on time (2,099 scheduled flights). That is in line with the national average of 77.6%.
Southwest Airlines was the only reporting airline with regular flights on this route.
Over 24 months, Saturday was the most reliable day (88% on time) and July the worst month (65%).
The cancellation rate was 2.7% (US average 1.8%).
DCA to MDW on-time performance by airline
Last 12 months. Airlines with fewer than 30 completed flights are marked “limited data”.
| Airline | On time | Avg delay when late | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Airlines | 77.2% | 62 min | 2.7% | 2,099 |
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly DCA to MDW
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 4,199 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6am–7am | 94.5% | 2.7% | 598 |
| 7am–8am | 88.5% | 0.8% | 131 |
| 8am–9am | 83.8% | 0.0% | 37 |
| 9am–10am | 90.5% | 1.8% | 546 |
| 10am–11am | 87.4% | 1.4% | 146 |
| 11am–12pm | 82.0% | 1.5% | 520 |
| 12pm–1pm | 92.0% | 0.0% | 163 |
| 1pm–2pm | Limited data | 24 | |
| 2pm–3pm | 75.6% | 2.2% | 223 |
| 3pm–4pm | 70.9% | 1.8% | 437 |
| 4pm–5pm | 84.8% | 7.0% | 71 |
| 6pm–7pm | 64.8% | 3.7% | 514 |
| 7pm–8pm | 62.4% | 1.8% | 171 |
| 8pm–9pm | 72.5% | 1.6% | 122 |
| 9pm–10pm | 64.3% | 3.6% | 496 |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on DCA to MDW
On-time arrivals during holiday periods compared with all other days, last 24 months.
| Period | On time | vs other days | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving week (Tue before to Mon after) | 78.1% | -3.1 pts | 4.3% | 69 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 80.7% | -0.6 pts | 0.6% | 157 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 68.4% | -12.9 pts | 3.6% | 721 |
| All other days | 81.2% | — | 2.1% | 3,252 |
Monthly on-time trend
On-time arrival % each month, with the 12-month US average for reference.
What causes delays on this route
Share of reported delay minutes, last 12 months (BTS cause categories).