Best Time to Fly MSY to MDW: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International → Chicago Midway International
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
1,014 flights were scheduled from New Orleans (MSY) to Chicago (MDW) in the last 12 months, and 74.9% of those that flew arrived on time, 2.7 points below the US average of 77.6%.
Southwest Airlines was the only reporting airline with regular flights on this route.
February has been the best month (90% on time) and Friday the weakest day of the week (74%).
1.2% of flights were cancelled, versus 1.8% nationally.
MSY 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 | 74.9% | 54 min | 1.2% | 1,014 |
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly MSY to MDW
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 2,014 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5am–6am | 97.0% | 1.6% | 242 |
| 6am–7am | 91.1% | 0.3% | 317 |
| 7am–8am | 94.6% | 0.0% | 74 |
| 8am–9am | 92.8% | 0.0% | 98 |
| 9am–10am | 92.9% | 5.1% | 59 |
| 10am–11am | 88.9% | 1.6% | 64 |
| 11am–12pm | 78.6% | 0.8% | 134 |
| 12pm–1pm | 86.0% | 0.7% | 145 |
| 1pm–2pm | 86.3% | 0.0% | 51 |
| 2pm–3pm | 72.7% | 0.0% | 152 |
| 3pm–4pm | 76.7% | 3.0% | 134 |
| 4pm–5pm | 67.0% | 0.9% | 116 |
| 5pm–6pm | 56.4% | 2.2% | 139 |
| 6pm–7pm | 51.1% | 0.5% | 190 |
| 7pm–8pm | 62.5% | 0.0% | 32 |
| 8pm–9pm | Limited data | 3 | |
| 9pm–10pm | 71.4% | 0.0% | 49 |
| 10pm–11pm | Limited data | 15 | |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on MSY 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) | 90.3% | +8.8 pts | 5.9% | 34 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 74.0% | -7.6 pts | 0.0% | 73 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 71.0% | -10.5 pts | 0.5% | 374 |
| All other days | 81.5% | — | 1.0% | 1,533 |
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).