Route on-time record
MDW to DCA: most on-time flights and the best time to fly
Chicago (Chicago Midway International Airport) to Washington (Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport). 2,104 nonstop flights in Jun 2025 to May 2026, 69% arrived within 15 minutes and 2.1% were cancelled. The most reliable flight number was Southwest 3755 at 8:15 AM.
Flying on a specific date? We’ll adjust for the month, the weekday and the forecast.
MDW → DCA
Chicago to Washington: 2,104 nonstop flights a year
On time (12 months)
69%
Cancelled
2.1%
avg delay 19 min
Best time to leave
Before 9 AM
91% on time vs 54% 6 to 9 PM
Most reliable airline
Southwest
68% chance on time
Lowest nonstop fare seen in the next two months: $144 (Southwest 259 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 · Southwest 3755
8:15 AM → 11:05 AM1h 50m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
86%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 93%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 3 min
- Arrived on time 93% of the time (45 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 45 scheduled flights.
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 91% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 54%).
- Departs inside MDW's trouble window: 50% of its 30 ground stops and delay programs started between 7 AM and 1 PM.
Limited track record · 45 flights
Find Southwest 3755 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#2 · Southwest 2025
5:35 AM → 8:25 AM1h 50m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-06.
86%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 94%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 2 min
- Arrived on time 94% of the time (33 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 33 scheduled flights.
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 91% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 54%).
- Departs outside MDW's trouble window (7 AM to 1 PM, when 50% of its 30 ground stops and delay programs started).
Limited track record · 33 flights
Find Southwest 2025 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#3 · Southwest 3258
6:05 AM → 8:55 AM1h 50m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
84%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 89%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 4 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: 91% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 54%).
- Departs outside MDW's trouble window (7 AM to 1 PM, when 50% of its 30 ground stops and delay programs started).
Limited track record · 55 flights
Find Southwest 3258 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#4 · Southwest 2618
8:25 AM → 11:15 AM1h 50m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-06.
82%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 87%
- Cancelled
- 3.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 8 min
- Arrived on time 87% of the time (31 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Cancelled 3.0% of the time (1 of 33).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 91% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 54%).
- Departs inside MDW's trouble window: 50% of its 30 ground stops and delay programs started between 7 AM and 1 PM.
Limited track record · 31 flights
Find Southwest 2618 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#5 · Southwest 1469
11:15 AM → 2:00 PM1h 50m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-30.
64%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 62%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 20 min
- Arrived on time 62% of the time (47 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 47 scheduled flights.
- Departs inside MDW's trouble window: 50% of its 30 ground stops and delay programs started between 7 AM and 1 PM.
- Lands inside DCA's trouble window: 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
Limited track record · 47 flights
Find Southwest 1469 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#6 · Southwest 164
12:10 PM → 2:55 PM1h 45m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-06.
62%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 40%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 53 min
- Arrived on time 40% of the time (15 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs inside MDW's trouble window: 50% of its 30 ground stops and delay programs started between 7 AM and 1 PM.
- Lands inside DCA's trouble window: 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
- Short track record (15 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 15 flights
Find Southwest 164 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#7 · Southwest 3150
5:00 PM → 7:55 PM1h 55m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
60%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 57%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 26 min
- Arrived on time 57% of the time (47 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 47 scheduled flights.
- Departs outside MDW's trouble window (7 AM to 1 PM, when 50% of its 30 ground stops and delay programs started).
- 54% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.
Limited track record · 47 flights
Find Southwest 3150 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#8 · Southwest 2554
11:30 AM → 2:15 PM1h 45m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-05.
60%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 47%
- Cancelled
- 5.6%
- Avg arrival delay
- 29 min
- Arrived on time 47% of the time (17 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs inside MDW's trouble window: 50% of its 30 ground stops and delay programs started between 7 AM and 1 PM.
- Lands 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 · 17 flights
Find Southwest 2554 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#9 · Southwest 3449
4:20 PM → 7:10 PM1h 50m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-27.
58%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 50%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 33 min
- Arrived on time 50% of the time (16 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs outside MDW's trouble window (7 AM to 1 PM, when 50% of its 30 ground stops and delay programs started).
- 76% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.
- Short track record (16 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 16 flights
Find Southwest 3449 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#10 · Southwest 3384
1:50 PM → 4:35 PM1h 45m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
57%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 53%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 21 min
- Arrived on time 53% of the time (55 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 55 scheduled flights.
- Departs outside MDW's trouble window (7 AM to 1 PM, when 50% of its 30 ground stops and delay programs started).
- Lands inside DCA's trouble window: 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
Limited track record · 55 flights
Find Southwest 3384 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
Airlines on this route
Season-adjusted chance of operating and arriving on time.
- Southwest Airlines68%
2,104 flights · 69% on time as flown · 2.1% cancel
On time by departure time
All airlines, scheduled local departure, Jun 2025 to May 2026.
- Before 9 AM91%
453 flights · avg delay 4 min
- 9 AM to noon80%
344 flights · avg delay 11 min
- Noon to 3 PM64%
441 flights · avg delay 22 min
- 3 to 6 PM60%
468 flights · avg delay 28 min
- 6 to 9 PM54%
373 flights · avg delay 29 min
Best day: Saturday (80%). Worst: Sunday (72%).
Smarter routing
Nearby airports that run more on time
MDW → BWI 77% chance on time
Chicago Midway International Airport to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport · 1,856 flights a year · 30 mi from your airports · yours: 68%
ORD → IAD 72% chance on time
Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Washington Dulles International Airport · 2,021 flights a year · 38 mi from your airports · yours: 68%
ORD → BWI 70% chance on time
Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport · 2,694 flights a year · 45 mi from your airports · yours: 68%
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.
What delays this route
- Air traffic control and airport volume40%
- Late-arriving aircraft35%
- Airline (crew, maintenance, boarding)24%
- Severe weather2%
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
MDW to DCA questions
- What time of day is best to fly MDW to DCA?
- Before 9 AM: 91% of flights arrived on time, against 54% for departures 6 to 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 MDW to DCA?
- Southwest, with a season-adjusted 68% 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 MDW to DCA?
- July (66% on time); the best was April (81%), 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 MDW
- DCA to MDW (return)
- MDW to ATL 80%
- MDW to PHX 76%
- MDW to MCO 77%
- MDW to MSP 78%
- MDW to LAS 77%
- MDW to DEN 73%
- MDW to LGA 69%
- MDW to DAL 77%
- MDW to MCI 79%
- MDW to BNA 80%
- MDW to BWI 79%
- MDW to HOU 74%
Live status: FAA delays and ground stops