Best Time to Fly DTW to MDW: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Detroit Metro Wayne County → Chicago Midway International
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
1,256 flights were scheduled from Detroit (DTW) to Chicago (MDW) in the last 12 months, and 75.6% of those that flew arrived on time, 2.1 points below the US average of 77.6%.
Among 2 airlines, SkyWest Airlines led with 82.3% on time and Southwest Airlines was last with 74.2%.
Over 24 months, Tuesday was the most reliable day (84% on time) and July the worst month (66%).
The cancellation rate was 1.2% (US average 1.8%).
DTW 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SkyWest Airlines | 82.3% | 56 min | 0.5% | 204 |
| Southwest Airlines | 74.2% | 52 min | 1.3% | 1,052 |
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly DTW to MDW
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 3,302 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6am–7am | 86.2% | 1.0% | 297 |
| 7am–8am | 89.0% | 0.9% | 231 |
| 8am–9am | 77.6% | 0.5% | 657 |
| 9am–10am | Limited data | 3 | |
| 10am–11am | Limited data | 13 | |
| 11am–12pm | Limited data | 25 | |
| 12pm–1pm | 81.5% | 0.2% | 495 |
| 1pm–2pm | 75.5% | 0.3% | 291 |
| 2pm–3pm | 90.6% | 0.0% | 54 |
| 3pm–4pm | 84.2% | 0.0% | 57 |
| 4pm–5pm | 83.9% | 0.5% | 206 |
| 5pm–6pm | 86.1% | 0.9% | 109 |
| 6pm–7pm | 79.7% | 0.3% | 365 |
| 7pm–8pm | 68.7% | 1.6% | 250 |
| 8pm–9pm | 57.7% | 2.8% | 180 |
| 9pm–10pm | 69.6% | 0.0% | 69 |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on DTW 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) | 80.4% | -1.4 pts | 1.9% | 53 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 65.8% | -16.0 pts | 0.0% | 115 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 67.9% | -14.0 pts | 0.9% | 533 |
| All other days | 81.8% | — | 0.6% | 2,601 |
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).