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Route · GRR → MDW · 2020–2025 BTS data

Grand Rapids to Chicago

According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking (BTS On-Time Performance total flights), GRR to MDW (Grand Rapids to Chicago) ranks #2247 of 4927 tracked domestic routes by total flights (most flights = #1).

Data updated 2026-06-13

85.5%
On-time
+6.5 pts
vs US avg
63 min
Delay when late
5,544
Flights
#2247 of 4927
Corpus placement

Cancelled

0.4%

Best Month

May 2025 92%

Worst Month

Sep 2025 70%

Distance

137 mi

Carriers

1

Monthly Performance

Recent 24 months of route data.

Period Flights Delayed Cancelled Diverted Carriers
Dec 2025 60 18 0 1 WN
Nov 2025 59 12 2 0 WN
Oct 2025 88 12 0 0 WN
Sep 2025 86 26 0 0 WN
Aug 2025 87 23 0 0 WN
Jul 2025 89 23 0 1 WN
Jun 2025 83 20 0 0 WN
May 2025 65 5 0 0 WN
Apr 2025 64 9 0 0 WN
Mar 2025 66 12 0 0 WN
Feb 2025 56 15 0 0 WN
Jan 2025 63 16 0 0 WN
Dec 2024 65 14 0 1 WN
Nov 2024 62 9 0 0 WN
Oct 2024 68 7 0 0 WN
Sep 2024 85 8 0 0 WN
Aug 2024 88 9 0 0 WN
Jul 2024 89 16 0 1 WN
Jun 2024 85 13 0 0 WN
May 2024 89 11 0 1 WN
Apr 2024 86 7 0 0 WN
Mar 2024 88 9 0 0 WN
Feb 2024 83 9 0 0 WN
Jan 2024 89 26 6 0 WN

GRR–MDW seasonal on-time pattern

Best: May (91.9%) · weakest: July (78.4%)

75%80%85%90%95% JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec 81.5%

Strongest calendar month

May

91.9% on-time · ~76 flights/mo

Busiest calendar month

August

~86 flights/mo avg

Weakest calendar month

July

78.4% on-time · ~83 flights/mo

Cancellation Rate

0.4%

8 of 1,843 flights

Diversion Rate

0.3%

5 of 1,843 flights

Origin-hub reliability standing

Among GRR's stronger departures

GRR → MDW posts a 85.5% on-time rate, landing in the ≥85% band with 5 of 20 BTS-tracked routes leaving Grand Rapids. The same hub also shows 11 mid-band and 4 challenged departures · fleet-wide on-time rank #1054 of 4927 (highest on-time = #1).

What the Data Says About GRR to MDW

Grand Rapids to Chicago (GRR to MDW) is one of the more dependable pairings in the BTS On-Time Performance dataset: a 85.5% on-time rate across 5,544 flights, with delays that do happen averaging 62.7 minutes. The corridor runs roughly 137 miles and is served by 1 carrier. Over the most recent 24 months, 8 of 1,843 flights were cancelled (0.4%) and 5 diverted (0.3%).

The monthly split is wide on this route: May 2025 posted the strongest performance at 92% on-time, while Sep 2025 came in at just 70% - a 23-point swing worth factoring into travel timing.

On the multi-year calendar, GRR–MDW peaks in May at 91.9% on-time while August carries the heaviest traffic (~86 flights per month) ; the softest month is July at 78.4%, a 13.5-point swing that repeats because the corridor's weather and holiday mix stays stable year to year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does GRR to MDW rank among US routes by traffic?
According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking, GRR to MDW ranks #2247 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 GRR to MDW?
Flights from Grand Rapids to Chicago have a 85.5% on-time rate based on 5,544 flights. The average delay is 62.7 minutes. The best recent month was May 2025 with 92% on-time.
What is the cancellation rate for GRR to MDW?
Over the last 24 months, 0.4% of flights on this route were cancelled (8 of 1,843 flights) and 0.3% were diverted.
How far is the flight from GRR to MDW?
The flight distance from Grand Rapids (GRR) to Chicago (MDW) is approximately 137 miles. This route is served by 1 carrier.
When is the best time to fly from GRR to MDW?
The best recent month for on-time performance was May 2025 (92% on-time). The worst was Sep 2025 (70% on-time). Consider booking during months with historically better performance.

Airports on this route

Data source

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

Using GRR–MDW data

GRR–MDW runs 6.5 pts above the national 79% average; the remaining risk is month-to-month swing and carrier mix, not a weak headline rate.

  • Compare GRR and MDW airport profiles: delay causes and top routes differ even on the same corridor. GRR airport
  • If your dates flex, May (91.9% on-time) beats July (78.4%) on this corridor. Seasonal chart
  • 4 other routes post a similar 85.5% 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.