Route on-time record
MDW to DTW: most on-time flights and the best time to fly
Chicago (Chicago Midway International Airport) to Detroit (Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport). 1,387 nonstop flights in Jun 2025 to May 2026, 77% arrived within 15 minutes and 1.4% were cancelled. The most reliable flight number was Southwest 1282 at 7:50 AM.
Flying on a specific date? We’ll adjust for the month, the weekday and the forecast.
MDW → DTW
Chicago to Detroit: 1,387 nonstop flights a year
On time (12 months)
77%
Cancelled
1.4%
avg delay 14 min
Best time to leave
Before 9 AM
89% on time vs 53% after 9 PM
Most reliable airline
SkyWest
82% chance on time
Lowest nonstop fare seen in the next two months: $234 (Southwest 2742 on 2026-10-24). 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 1282
7:50 AM → 10:00 AM1h 10m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-30. Same departure also flew as Southwest 4086, 1071; its record covers all of them.
86%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 93%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 3 min
- Arrived on time 93% of the time (41 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 41 scheduled flights.
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 89% on time; After 9 PM: 53%).
- 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 · 41 flights
Find Southwest 1282 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#2 · Southwest 369
8:00 AM → 10:10 AM1h 10m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-29.
85%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 100%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 0 min
- Arrived on time 100% of the time (23 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 89% on time; After 9 PM: 53%).
- 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 (23 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 23 flights
Find Southwest 369 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#3 · Southwest 263
7:40 AM → 9:45 AM1h 05m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-27.
78%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 75%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 27 min
- Arrived on time 75% of the time (16 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 89% on time; After 9 PM: 53%).
- Departs inside MDW's trouble window: 50% of its 30 ground stops and delay programs started between 7 AM and 1 PM.
- 56% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.
Limited track record · 16 flights
Find Southwest 263 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#4 · Southwest 1346
12:45 PM → 2:55 PM1h 10m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as Southwest 3791; its record covers all of them.
68%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 65%
- Cancelled
- 2.6%
- Avg arrival delay
- 21 min
- Arrived on time 65% of the time (75 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 DTW's trouble window: 64% of its 28 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
- 51% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.
Moderate track record · 75 flights
Find Southwest 1346 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#5 · Southwest 3027
7:00 PM → 9:05 PM1h 05m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as Southwest 3269, 498; its record covers all of them.
61%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 56%
- Cancelled
- 2.5%
- Avg arrival delay
- 31 min
- Arrived on time 56% of the time (77 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).
- 59% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.
Moderate track record · 77 flights
Find Southwest 3027 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
Airlines on this route
Season-adjusted chance of operating and arriving on time.
- SkyWest Airlines (sold as United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle or Alaska)82%
330 flights · 84% on time as flown · 0.7% cancel
- Southwest Airlines74%
1,057 flights · 75% on time as flown · 1.8% cancel
On time by departure time
All airlines, scheduled local departure, Jun 2025 to May 2026.
- Before 9 AM89%
131 flights · avg delay 7 min
- 9 AM to noon86%
381 flights · avg delay 7 min
- Noon to 3 PM78%
155 flights · avg delay 15 min
- 3 to 6 PM71%
225 flights · avg delay 17 min
- 6 to 9 PM74%
395 flights · avg delay 18 min
- After 9 PM53%
100 flights · avg delay 32 min
Best day: Saturday (84%). Worst: Sunday (75%).
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 aircraft43%
- Airline (crew, maintenance, boarding)33%
- Air traffic control and airport volume14%
- Severe weather10%
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 DTW questions
- What time of day is best to fly MDW to DTW?
- Before 9 AM: 89% of flights arrived on time, against 53% 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 MDW to DTW?
- SkyWest, with a season-adjusted 82% chance of operating and arriving on time over 330 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 DTW?
- July (65% on time); the best was November (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 MDW
- DTW 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 DCA 69%
- MDW to MCI 79%
- MDW to BNA 80%
- MDW to BWI 79%
Live status: FAA delays and ground stops