PlainFlights

Route · BUF → MDW · 2020–2025 BTS data

Buffalo to Chicago

According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking (BTS On-Time Performance total flights), BUF to MDW (Buffalo to Chicago) ranks #2602 of 4927 tracked domestic routes by total flights (most flights = #1).

Data updated 2026-06-13

85.2%
On-time
+6.2 pts
vs US avg
67 min
Delay when late
4,668
Flights
#2602 of 4927
Corpus placement

Cancelled

1.5%

Best Month

Oct 2024 95%

Worst Month

Dec 2025 72%

Distance

468 mi

Carriers

1

Monthly Performance

Recent 24 months of route data.

Period Flights Delayed Cancelled Diverted Carriers
Dec 2025 60 17 1 0 WN
Nov 2025 56 8 3 0 WN
Oct 2025 59 9 0 0 WN
Sep 2025 82 9 0 0 WN
Aug 2025 84 18 0 0 WN
Jul 2025 97 22 1 1 WN
Jun 2025 90 19 2 0 WN
May 2025 57 7 0 0 WN
Apr 2025 50 4 0 0 WN
Mar 2025 32 6 0 0 WN
Jan 2025 34 8 0 0 WN
Dec 2024 60 11 1 0 WN
Nov 2024 56 3 0 0 WN
Oct 2024 60 3 0 0 WN
Sep 2024 89 10 0 0 WN
Aug 2024 90 15 0 2 WN
Jul 2024 85 18 1 0 WN
Jun 2024 78 16 0 0 WN
May 2024 77 20 0 0 WN
Apr 2024 72 12 0 1 WN
Mar 2024 61 12 0 0 WN
Feb 2024 42 0 0 0 WN
Jan 2024 48 4 11 0 WN
Dec 2023 63 9 3 0 WN

BUF–MDW seasonal on-time pattern

Best: February (91.1%) · weakest: March (80.2%)

75%80%85%90%95% JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec 84.8%

Strongest calendar month

February

91.1% on-time · ~48 flights/mo

Busiest calendar month

July

~97 flights/mo avg

Weakest calendar month

March

80.2% on-time · ~56 flights/mo

Cancellation Rate

1.5%

23 of 1,582 flights

Diversion Rate

0.3%

4 of 1,582 flights

Explore origin & destination

On-time and delay data for the airports this route connects.

BUF - Buffalo

Full on-time, delay-cause, and seasonal performance for Buffalo, NY.

BUF on-time profile

MDW - Chicago

Full on-time, delay-cause, and seasonal performance for Chicago, IL.

MDW on-time profile

Compare the two airports

See BUF and MDW side by side on delays, cancellations, and reliability.

Compare BUF vs MDW

Origin-hub reliability standing

Among BUF's stronger departures

BUF → MDW posts a 85.2% on-time rate, landing in the ≥85% band with 6 of 19 BTS-tracked routes leaving Buffalo. The same hub also shows 12 mid-band and 1 challenged departures · fleet-wide on-time rank #1143 of 4927 (highest on-time = #1).

What the Data Says About BUF to MDW

Buffalo to Chicago (BUF to MDW) is one of the more dependable pairings in the BTS On-Time Performance dataset: a 85.2% on-time rate across 4,668 flights, with delays that do happen averaging 66.7 minutes. The corridor runs roughly 468 miles and is served by 1 carrier. Over the most recent 24 months, 23 of 1,582 flights were cancelled (1.5%) and 4 diverted (0.3%).

The monthly split is wide on this route: Oct 2024 posted the strongest performance at 95% on-time, while Dec 2025 came in at just 72% - a 23-point swing worth factoring into travel timing.

On the multi-year calendar, BUF–MDW peaks in February at 91.1% on-time while July carries the heaviest traffic (~97 flights per month) ; the softest month is March at 80.2%, a 10.9-point swing that repeats because the corridor's weather and holiday mix stays stable year to year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does BUF to MDW rank among US routes by traffic? ▼
According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking, BUF to MDW ranks #2602 of 4927 tracked domestic routes by total flights (most flights = #1). That ordinal matches our busiest-routes listing (total_flights DESC). See /methodology#corpus-placement for the exact sort basis.
How often are flights delayed from BUF to MDW? ▼
Flights from Buffalo to Chicago have a 85.2% on-time rate based on 4,668 flights. The average delay is 66.7 minutes. The best recent month was Oct 2024 with 95% on-time.
What is the cancellation rate for BUF to MDW? ▼
Over the last 24 months, 1.5% of flights on this route were cancelled (23 of 1,582 flights) and 0.3% were diverted.
How far is the flight from BUF to MDW? ▼
The flight distance from Buffalo (BUF) to Chicago (MDW) is approximately 468 miles. This route is served by 1 carrier.
When is the best time to fly from BUF to MDW? ▼
The best recent month for on-time performance was Oct 2024 (95% on-time). The worst was Dec 2025 (72% on-time). Consider booking during months with historically better performance.

Airports on this route

BUF Airport

Buffalo
MDW Airport

Chicago
Data source

Data Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), On-Time Performance Data. Statistics reflect cumulative performance across all available reporting periods.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Using BUF–MDW data

BUF–MDW runs 6.2 pts above the national 79% average; the remaining risk is month-to-month swing and carrier mix, not a weak headline rate.

  • Compare BUF and MDW airport profiles: delay causes and top routes differ even on the same corridor. BUF airport
  • If your dates flex, February (91.1% on-time) beats March (80.2%) on this corridor. Seasonal chart
  • 4 other routes post a similar 85.2% on-time rate; compare before you commit to this pairing. Similar routes

On-time rate reflects the BTS historical average across all reporting carriers on this origin–destination pair, not any single flight or booking recommendation.

Data sourced from U.S. Department of Transportation Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) On-Time Performance data. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainFlights

Every figure on PlainFlights is rendered directly from BTS On-Time Performance data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page aggregates this specific route's on-time performance and monthly trend, live from the dataset. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.