Route on-time record

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

Chicago (Chicago Midway International Airport) to Denver (Denver International Airport). 2,392 nonstop flights in Jun 2025 to May 2026, 73% arrived within 15 minutes and 1.2% were cancelled. The most reliable flight number was Southwest 3262 at 6:00 AM.

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

MDW → DEN

Chicago to Denver: 2,392 nonstop flights a year

On time (12 months)

73%

Cancelled

1.2%

avg delay 18 min

Best time to leave

Before 9 AM

89% on time vs 54% 3 to 6 PM

Most reliable airline

Southwest

72% chance on time

Check MDW to DEN fares

Lowest nonstop fare seen in the next two months: $116 (Southwest 3718 on 2026-11-12). 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 3262
6:00 AM → 7:40 AM2h 40m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as Southwest 2135; its record covers all of them.
91%
chance on time
On time (history)
95%
Cancelled
1.1%
Avg arrival delay
4 min
- Arrived on time 95% of the time (86 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 89% on time; 3 to 6 PM: 54%).
- Departs outside MDW's trouble window (7 AM to 1 PM, when 50% of its 30 ground stops and delay programs started).
Moderate track record · 86 flights
Find Southwest 3262 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#2 · Southwest 474
10:00 AM → 11:40 AM2h 40m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
85%
chance on time
On time (history)
91%
Cancelled
0.0%
Avg arrival delay
4 min
- Arrived on time 91% of the time (56 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 56 scheduled flights.
- Departs inside MDW's trouble window: 50% of its 30 ground stops and delay programs started between 7 AM and 1 PM.
- Short track record (56 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 56 flights
Find Southwest 474 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#3 · Southwest 1049
10:10 AM → 11:55 AM2h 45m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-06.
78%
chance on time
On time (history)
74%
Cancelled
3.6%
Avg arrival delay
14 min
- Arrived on time 74% of the time (27 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.
- Short track record (27 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 27 flights
Find Southwest 1049 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#4 · Southwest 3404
11:40 AM → 1:20 PM2h 40m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
76%
chance on time
On time (history)
78%
Cancelled
0.0%
Avg arrival delay
9 min
- Arrived on time 78% of the time (55 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 55 scheduled flights.
- Departs inside MDW's trouble window: 50% of its 30 ground stops and delay programs started between 7 AM and 1 PM.
- Short track record (55 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 55 flights
Find Southwest 3404 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#5 · Southwest 117
11:55 AM → 1:35 PM2h 40m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-06.
74%
chance on time
On time (history)
71%
Cancelled
6.1%
Avg arrival delay
26 min
- Arrived on time 71% of the time (31 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Cancelled 6.1% of the time (2 of 33).
- Departs inside MDW's trouble window: 50% of its 30 ground stops and delay programs started between 7 AM and 1 PM.
- Short track record (31 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 31 flights
Find Southwest 117 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#6 · Southwest 347
3:00 PM → 4:40 PM2h 40m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-06.
64%
chance on time
On time (history)
60%
Cancelled
0.0%
Avg arrival delay
41 min
- Arrived on time 60% of the time (15 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's least on-time window (3 to 6 PM: 54% on time; Before 9 AM: 89%).
- Departs outside MDW's trouble window (7 AM to 1 PM, when 50% of its 30 ground stops and delay programs started).
- Lands inside DEN's trouble window: 79% of its 174 ground stops and delay programs started between 2 PM and 8 PM.
Limited track record · 15 flights
Find Southwest 347 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#7 · Southwest 3265
3:30 PM → 5:10 PM2h 40m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-29.
63%
chance on time
On time (history)
64%
Cancelled
4.3%
Avg arrival delay
40 min
- Arrived on time 64% of the time (22 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's least on-time window (3 to 6 PM: 54% on time; Before 9 AM: 89%).
- Departs outside MDW's trouble window (7 AM to 1 PM, when 50% of its 30 ground stops and delay programs started).
- Lands inside DEN's trouble window: 79% of its 174 ground stops and delay programs started between 2 PM and 8 PM.
Limited track record · 22 flights
Find Southwest 3265 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#8 · Southwest 1399
9:35 PM → 11:15 PM2h 40m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as Southwest 2965; its record covers all of them.
58%
chance on time
On time (history)
56%
Cancelled
1.3%
Avg arrival delay
34 min
- Arrived on time 56% of the time (79 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).
- 60% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.
Moderate track record · 79 flights
Find Southwest 1399 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#9 · Southwest 3515
5:40 PM → 7:20 PM2h 45m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-06.
57%
chance on time
On time (history)
53%
Cancelled
3.0%
Avg arrival delay
33 min
- Arrived on time 53% of the time (32 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Cancelled 3.0% of the time (1 of 33).
- Leaves in this route's least on-time window (3 to 6 PM: 54% on time; Before 9 AM: 89%).
- 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 · 32 flights
Find Southwest 3515 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#10 · Southwest 2539
5:30 PM → 7:10 PM2h 40m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
52%
chance on time
On time (history)
51%
Cancelled
0.0%
Avg arrival delay
30 min
- Arrived on time 51% of the time (55 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 55 scheduled flights.
- Leaves in this route's least on-time window (3 to 6 PM: 54% on time; Before 9 AM: 89%).
- 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 2539 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

Airlines on this route

Season-adjusted chance of operating and arriving on time.

Southwest Airlines72%
2,279 flights · 73% on time as flown · 1.2% cancel
Frontier Airlines69%
113 flights · 67% on time as flown · 1.0% cancel

On time by departure time

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

Before 9 AM89%
524 flights · avg delay 5 min
9 AM to noon84%
432 flights · avg delay 11 min
Noon to 3 PM78%
458 flights · avg delay 16 min
3 to 6 PM54%
478 flights · avg delay 31 min
6 to 9 PM60%
312 flights · avg delay 26 min
After 9 PM55%
188 flights · avg delay 30 min

Best day: Wednesday (81%). Worst: Thursday (74%).

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

Late-arriving aircraft38%
Air traffic control and airport volume31%
Airline (crew, maintenance, boarding)26%
Severe weather5%

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 DEN questions

What time of day is best to fly MDW to DEN?: Before 9 AM: 89% of flights arrived on time, against 54% for departures 3 to 6 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 DEN?: Southwest, with a season-adjusted 72% chance of operating and arriving on time over 2,279 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 DEN?: July (64% on time); the best was November (89%), 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

Live status: FAA delays and ground stops

All Products

Aviation Intelligence

Alerts & Airspace

Free Pilot Tools & Widgets

RC Aviation

Games & Learning

Weather Research & More

Pilot Resources

My Airports

Ask ATIS