Skip to content

All Products

Aviation Intelligence

Alerts & Airspace

Free Pilot Tools & Widgets

RC Aviation

Games & Learning

Weather Research & More

Pilot Resources

My Airports

Your shortcuts, saved on this device. Search to add an airport.

No airports saved yet. Add the fields you visit most.

Ask ATIS

Route on-time record

DCA to MDW: most on-time flights and the best time to fly

Washington (Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport) to Chicago (Chicago Midway International Airport). 2,104 nonstop flights in Jun 2025 to May 2026, 77% arrived within 15 minutes and 2.6% were cancelled. The most reliable flight number was Southwest 192 at 7:55 AM.

Flying on a specific date? We’ll adjust for the month, the weekday and the forecast.

DCA → MDW

Washington to Chicago: 2,104 nonstop flights a year

On time (12 months)

77%

Cancelled

2.6%

avg delay 16 min

Best time to leave

Before 9 AM

92% on time vs 61% after 9 PM

Most reliable airline

Southwest

75% chance on time

Check DCA to MDW fares

Lowest nonstop fare seen in the next two months: $144 (Southwest 1856 on 2026-11-17). Fares open on our travel partner (Aviasales). Pick the flight number you chose here.

Most reliable nonstop flights

Ranked by the chance the flight operates and arrives within 15 minutes of schedule, from Jun 2025 to May 2026 records.

  1. #1 · Southwest 192

    7:55 AM → 9:00 AM2h 05m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.

    84%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    89%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    6 min
    • Arrived on time 89% of the time (55 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Never cancelled in 55 scheduled flights.
    • Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 92% on time; After 9 PM: 61%).
    • Departs outside DCA's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started).

    Limited track record · 55 flights

    Find Southwest 192 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  2. #2 · Southwest 2387

    9:00 AM → 10:10 AM2h 10m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-06. Same departure also flew as Southwest 2192; its record covers all of them.

    84%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    85%
    Cancelled
    1.6%
    Avg arrival delay
    12 min
    • Arrived on time 85% of the time (61 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Departs outside DCA's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started).
    • Lands inside MDW's trouble window: 50% of its 30 ground stops and delay programs started between 7 AM and 1 PM.

    Moderate track record · 61 flights

    Find Southwest 2387 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  3. #3 · Southwest 2997

    12:00 PM → 1:05 PM2h 05m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as Southwest 3321; its record covers all of them.

    82%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    83%
    Cancelled
    1.1%
    Avg arrival delay
    13 min
    • Arrived on time 83% of the time (87 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Departs outside DCA's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started).
    • 66% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.

    Moderate track record · 87 flights

    Find Southwest 2997 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  4. #4 · Southwest 2386

    7:25 AM → 8:30 AM2h 05m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-06.

    81%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    84%
    Cancelled
    6.1%
    Avg arrival delay
    20 min
    • Arrived on time 84% of the time (31 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Cancelled 6.1% of the time (2 of 33).
    • Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 92% on time; After 9 PM: 61%).
    • Departs outside DCA's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started).

    Limited track record · 31 flights

    Find Southwest 2386 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  5. #5 · Southwest 155

    10:00 AM → 11:05 AM2h 05m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-29.

    80%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    85%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    6 min
    • Arrived on time 85% of the time (39 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Never cancelled in 39 scheduled flights.
    • Departs outside DCA's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started).
    • Lands inside MDW's trouble window: 50% of its 30 ground stops and delay programs started between 7 AM and 1 PM.

    Limited track record · 39 flights

    Find Southwest 155 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  6. #6 · Southwest 1409

    1:00 PM → 2:00 PM2h 00m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-30.

    75%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    75%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    7 min
    • Arrived on time 75% of the time (8 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Departs inside DCA's trouble window: 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
    • Short track record (8 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.

    Limited track record · 8 flights

    Find Southwest 1409 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  7. #7 · Southwest 1747

    3:35 PM → 4:45 PM2h 10m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.

    69%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    69%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    12 min
    • Arrived on time 69% of the time (55 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Never cancelled in 55 scheduled flights.
    • Departs inside DCA's trouble window: 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
    • 55% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.

    Limited track record · 55 flights

    Find Southwest 1747 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  8. #8 · Southwest 3500

    3:20 PM → 4:35 PM2h 15m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-06.

    62%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    50%
    Cancelled
    3.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    34 min
    • Arrived on time 50% of the time (32 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Cancelled 3.0% of the time (1 of 33).
    • Departs inside DCA's trouble window: 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
    • 54% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.

    Limited track record · 32 flights

    Find Southwest 3500 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  9. #9 · Southwest 1748

    7:45 PM → 8:50 PM2h 05m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-29. Same departure also flew as Southwest 1394; its record covers all of them.

    56%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    47%
    Cancelled
    4.8%
    Avg arrival delay
    40 min
    • Arrived on time 47% of the time (57 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Cancelled 4.8% of the time (3 of 62).
    • Departs outside DCA's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started).
    • Short track record (57 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.

    Limited track record · 57 flights

    Find Southwest 1748 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  10. #10 · Southwest 1784

    9:35 PM → 10:35 PM2h 00m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as Southwest 1429; its record covers all of them.

    55%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    46%
    Cancelled
    1.3%
    Avg arrival delay
    37 min
    • Arrived on time 46% of the time (76 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Leaves in this route's least on-time window (After 9 PM: 61% on time; Before 9 AM: 92%).
    • Departs outside DCA's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started).
    • 64% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.

    Moderate track record · 76 flights

    Find Southwest 1784 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

Airlines on this route

Season-adjusted chance of operating and arriving on time.

  • Southwest Airlines75%

    2,104 flights · 77% on time as flown · 2.6% cancel

On time by departure time

All airlines, scheduled local departure, Jun 2025 to May 2026.

  • Before 9 AM92%

    396 flights · avg delay 7 min

  • 9 AM to noon84%

    649 flights · avg delay 8 min

  • Noon to 3 PM81%

    149 flights · avg delay 15 min

  • 3 to 6 PM67%

    274 flights · avg delay 18 min

  • 6 to 9 PM63%

    428 flights · avg delay 29 min

  • After 9 PM61%

    208 flights · avg delay 30 min

Best day: Saturday (86%). Worst: Friday (76%).

On time by month

All airlines, Jun 2023 to May 2026. Several years per month, so one stormy season doesn't define a month. Travel-month estimates use this seasonal pattern.

J
86
F
83
M
77
A
81
M
73
J
76
J
68
A
81
S
88
O
87
N
85
D
82

What delays this route

  • Late-arriving aircraft60%
  • Airline (crew, maintenance, boarding)23%
  • Air traffic control and airport volume13%
  • Severe weather4%

Share of delay minutes by the cause airlines report to the US DOT.

Historical odds, not a guarantee. Built from the US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics on-time reports (Jun 2025 to May 2026), FAA ground stop and delay program advisories, and 20 years of airport weather observations. Covers US airlines that report to the DOT; schedules are flights operated recently, so confirm times when you book. ATIS Alerts is not affiliated with any airline. Fares are what Aviasales travelers saw in recent searches (USD, one way, 1 adult), not live quotes; the partner site shows the current price. Fare links go to our travel partner and may earn us a commission at no cost to you. Affiliate disclosure

DCA to MDW questions

What time of day is best to fly DCA to MDW?
Before 9 AM: 92% of flights arrived on time, against 61% for departures after 9 PM. Later flights inherit delays from earlier ones, so the first departures of the day usually run best.
Which airline is most on time from DCA to MDW?
Southwest, with a season-adjusted 75% chance of operating and arriving on time over 2,104 flights. The adjustment compares each airline with what the route did in the months it flew, so a carrier that skipped a stormy month gets no free credit.
What is the worst month for delays on DCA to MDW?
July (68% on time); the best was September (88%), averaged over Jun 2023 to May 2026.
Is this a prediction for my flight?
No. These are historical odds from the US DOT on-time reports, FAA advisories and airport weather records. Check your flight status and the FAA delay board on the day you fly.

More routes from DCA

Live status: FAA delays and ground stops