Route · DTW → MDW · 2020–2025 BTS data
Detroit to Chicago
The DTW–MDW corridor (Detroit, MI → Chicago, IL) runs ahead of the national average, served by 9 carriers across roughly 228 miles.
Data updated 2026-06-13
- 84.9%
- On-time
- +5.9 pts
- vs US avg
- 67 min
- Delay when late
- 11,302
- Flights
Cancelled
0.8%
Best Month
Oct 2024 94%
Worst Month
Dec 2025 67%
Distance
228 mi
Carriers
9
Monthly Performance
Recent 24 months of route data.
| Period | Flights | Delayed | Cancelled | Diverted | Carriers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2025 | 89 | 29 | 0 | 1 | WN |
| Nov 2025 | 99 | 18 | 7 | 0 | OO,WN |
| Oct 2025 | 154 | 23 | 0 | 0 | OO,WN |
| Sep 2025 | 150 | 22 | 0 | 0 | WN,OO |
| Aug 2025 | 160 | 36 | 2 | 1 | OO,WN |
| Jul 2025 | 153 | 44 | 3 | 1 | OO,WN |
| Jun 2025 | 154 | 28 | 0 | 0 | OO,WN |
| May 2025 | 180 | 27 | 0 | 0 | OO,WN |
| Apr 2025 | 174 | 29 | 2 | 0 | OO,WN |
| Mar 2025 | 176 | 47 | 1 | 0 | OO,WN |
| Feb 2025 | 158 | 37 | 1 | 0 | OO,WN |
| Jan 2025 | 173 | 41 | 0 | 1 | OO,WN |
| Dec 2024 | 166 | 40 | 0 | 0 | OO,WN |
| Nov 2024 | 167 | 23 | 0 | 1 | OO,WN |
| Oct 2024 | 181 | 11 | 0 | 0 | OO,WN |
| Sep 2024 | 180 | 18 | 0 | 0 | WN,OO |
| Aug 2024 | 184 | 40 | 0 | 0 | WN,OO |
| Jul 2024 | 175 | 44 | 2 | 0 | OO,WN |
| Jun 2024 | 173 | 47 | 0 | 0 | OO,WN |
| May 2024 | 177 | 39 | 1 | 2 | OO,WN |
| Apr 2024 | 172 | 25 | 0 | 0 | OO,WN |
| Mar 2024 | 176 | 30 | 0 | 0 | OO,WN |
| Feb 2024 | 161 | 15 | 0 | 0 | OO,WN |
| Jan 2024 | 171 | 53 | 13 | 2 | WN,OO |
Cancellation Rate
0.8%
32 of 3,903 flights
Diversion Rate
0.2%
9 of 3,903 flights
Explore origin & destination
On-time and delay data for the airports this route connects.
DTW - Detroit
Full on-time, delay-cause, and seasonal performance for Detroit, MI.
Origin airport →MDW - Chicago
Full on-time, delay-cause, and seasonal performance for Chicago, IL.
Destination airport →Compare the two airports
See DTW and MDW side by side on delays, cancellations, and reliability.
Open comparison tool →Similar routes
Other BTS-tracked routes with comparable performance or trip length to DTW–MDW.
Routes with a similar on-time rate
What the Data Says About DTW to MDW
Bureau of Transportation Statistics records show Detroit to Chicago (DTW to MDW) running a 84.9% on-time rate over 11,302 tracked flights, on the stronger end of a typical domestic pairing. When flights do run late, the average delay is 66.9 minutes. The 228-mile corridor is served by 9 carriers, and over the last 24 months 0.8% of 3,903 flights were cancelled, 0.2% diverted.
The monthly split is wide on this route: Oct 2024 posted the strongest performance at 94% on-time, while Dec 2025 came in at just 67% - a 27-point swing worth factoring into travel timing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often are flights delayed from DTW to MDW? ▼
What is the cancellation rate for DTW to MDW? ▼
How far is the flight from DTW to MDW? ▼
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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.
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.