Route on-time record
MDW to LAX: most on-time flights and the best time to fly
Chicago (Chicago Midway International Airport) to Los Angeles (Los Angeles International Airport). 1,355 nonstop flights in Jun 2025 to May 2026, 70% arrived within 15 minutes and 1.0% were cancelled. The most reliable flight number was Southwest 2896 at 6:15 AM.
Flying on a specific date? We’ll adjust for the month, the weekday and the forecast.
MDW → LAX
Chicago to Los Angeles: 1,355 nonstop flights a year
On time (12 months)
70%
Cancelled
1.0%
avg delay 16 min
Best time to leave
Before 9 AM
82% on time vs 55% after 9 PM
Most reliable airline
Southwest
70% chance on time
Lowest nonstop fare seen in the next two months: $97 (Southwest 2953 on 2026-11-16). 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 2896
6:15 AM → 8:40 AM4h 25m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-30.
82%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 87%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 4 min
- Arrived on time 87% of the time (31 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 31 scheduled flights.
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 82% on time; After 9 PM: 55%).
- 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 · 31 flights
Find Southwest 2896 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#2 · Southwest 2574
7:05 AM → 9:40 AM4h 35m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-05.
79%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 100%
- Cancelled
- 7.7%
- Avg arrival delay
- 0 min
- Arrived on time 100% of the time (12 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 82% on time; After 9 PM: 55%).
- 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 (12 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 12 flights
Find Southwest 2574 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#3 · Southwest 2731
10:10 AM → 12:40 PM4h 30m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as Southwest 2192; its record covers all of them.
77%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 78%
- Cancelled
- 1.2%
- Avg arrival delay
- 11 min
- Arrived on time 78% of the time (81 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.
Moderate track record · 81 flights
Find Southwest 2731 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#4 · Southwest 946
3:55 PM → 6:20 PM4h 25m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-27.
76%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 88%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 6 min
- Arrived on time 88% 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).
- Lands inside LAX's trouble window: 53% of its 15 ground stops and delay programs started between 4 PM and 10 PM.
- Short track record (16 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 16 flights
Find Southwest 946 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#5 · Southwest 1102
8:50 AM → 11:25 AM4h 35m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-06.
74%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 79%
- Cancelled
- 6.7%
- Avg arrival delay
- 12 min
- Arrived on time 79% of the time (14 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 82% on time; After 9 PM: 55%).
- 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 (14 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 14 flights
Find Southwest 1102 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#6 · Southwest 3034
5:40 PM → 8:15 PM4h 35m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-06.
63%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 53%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 32 min
- Arrived on time 53% of the time (15 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).
- Lands inside LAX's trouble window: 53% of its 15 ground stops and delay programs started between 4 PM and 10 PM.
- 66% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.
Limited track record · 15 flights
Find Southwest 3034 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#7 · Southwest 898
6:10 PM → 8:35 PM4h 25m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-29.
56%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 43%
- Cancelled
- 4.3%
- Avg arrival delay
- 31 min
- Arrived on time 43% of the time (21 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).
- Lands inside LAX's trouble window: 53% of its 15 ground stops and delay programs started between 4 PM and 10 PM.
- 52% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.
Limited track record · 21 flights
Find Southwest 898 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#8 · Southwest 1468
9:30 PM → 12:05 AM4h 35m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-06.
56%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 47%
- Cancelled
- 6.3%
- Avg arrival delay
- 32 min
- Arrived on time 47% of the time (30 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Cancelled 6.3% of the time (2 of 32).
- Leaves in this route's least on-time window (After 9 PM: 55% on time; Before 9 AM: 82%).
- 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 · 30 flights
Find Southwest 1468 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#9 · Southwest 3290
9:45 PM → 12:10 AM4h 25m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
54%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 45%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 30 min
- Arrived on time 45% of the time (53 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 54 scheduled flights.
- Leaves in this route's least on-time window (After 9 PM: 55% on time; Before 9 AM: 82%).
- 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 · 53 flights
Find Southwest 3290 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
Airlines on this route
Season-adjusted chance of operating and arriving on time.
- Southwest Airlines70%
1,355 flights · 70% on time as flown · 1.0% cancel
On time by departure time
All airlines, scheduled local departure, Jun 2025 to May 2026.
- Before 9 AM82%
356 flights · avg delay 8 min
- 9 AM to noon78%
191 flights · avg delay 12 min
- Noon to 3 PM67%
105 flights · avg delay 15 min
- 3 to 6 PM66%
225 flights · avg delay 20 min
- 6 to 9 PM69%
230 flights · avg delay 19 min
- After 9 PM55%
248 flights · avg delay 26 min
Best day: Saturday (76%). Worst: Sunday (68%).
Smarter routing
Nearby airports that run more on time
MDW → BUR 77% chance on time
Chicago Midway International Airport to Hollywood Burbank/Bob Hope Airport · 322 flights a year · 18 mi from your airports · yours: 70%
ORD → SNA 75% chance on time
Chicago O'Hare International Airport to John Wayne Orange County International Airport · 2,238 flights a year · 51 mi from your airports · yours: 70%
ORD → LAX 72% chance on time
Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport · 6,981 flights a year · 15 mi from your airports · yours: 70%
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 aircraft42%
- Airline (crew, maintenance, boarding)39%
- Air traffic control and airport volume16%
- 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 LAX questions
- What time of day is best to fly MDW to LAX?
- Before 9 AM: 82% of flights arrived on time, against 55% 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 LAX?
- Southwest, with a season-adjusted 70% chance of operating and arriving on time over 1,355 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 LAX?
- July (61% on time); the best was November (82%), 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
- LAX 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