PlainFlights

Route · MDW → BUF · 2020–2025 BTS data

Chicago to Buffalo

According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking (BTS On-Time Performance total flights), MDW to BUF (Chicago to Buffalo) ranks #2584 of 4927 tracked domestic routes by total flights (most flights = #1).

Data updated 2026-06-13

74.4%
On-time
-4.6 pts
vs US avg
55 min
Delay when late
4,697
Flights
#2584 of 4927
Corpus placement

Cancelled

1.1%

Best Month

Sep 2024 91%

Worst Month

Jun 2024 58%

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 57 13 2 0 WN
Oct 2025 59 15 0 0 WN
Sep 2025 82 17 0 0 WN
Aug 2025 84 21 1 0 WN
Jul 2025 97 30 1 0 WN
Jun 2025 90 25 1 0 WN
May 2025 57 15 0 0 WN
Apr 2025 50 9 0 0 WN
Mar 2025 32 11 1 0 WN
Jan 2025 34 6 1 0 WN
Dec 2024 60 11 1 0 WN
Nov 2024 56 7 0 0 WN
Oct 2024 61 12 0 0 WN
Sep 2024 88 8 0 0 WN
Aug 2024 90 20 0 0 WN
Jul 2024 85 34 1 0 WN
Jun 2024 79 33 0 0 WN
May 2024 80 28 0 0 WN
Apr 2024 75 21 0 0 WN
Mar 2024 63 12 0 0 WN
Feb 2024 50 4 0 0 WN
Jan 2024 56 19 7 0 WN
Dec 2023 63 10 1 0 WN

MDW–BUF seasonal on-time pattern

Best: February (85.2%) · weakest: June (64.2%)

60%65%70%75%80%85%90% JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec 80.4%

Strongest calendar month

February

85.2% on-time · ~51 flights/mo

Busiest calendar month

July

~97 flights/mo avg

Weakest calendar month

June

64.2% on-time · ~87 flights/mo

Cancellation Rate

1.1%

18 of 1,608 flights

Diversion Rate

0.0%

0 of 1,608 flights

Origin-hub reliability standing

Softer reliability from MDW

Among 69 routes leaving MDW, only 18 (including this one) clear below 75% on-time, while 0 stay ≥85% and 51 sit mid-band. Travelers comparing MDW options should weigh this 74.4% print against those peers · fleet on-time rank #4559 of 4927.

What the Data Says About MDW to BUF

On-time performance on the MDW to BUF pairing (Chicago to Buffalo) trails a chunk of the network: 74.4% of 4,697 tracked flights arrived on schedule, with a 55.3-minute average delay on the ones that ran late. The route spans about 468 miles across 1 carrier. Cancellations over the trailing 24 months hit 1.1% (18 of 1,608 flights), with 0.0% diverted.

The monthly split is wide on this route: Sep 2024 posted the strongest performance at 91% on-time, while Jun 2024 came in at just 58% - a 33-point swing worth factoring into travel timing.

On the multi-year calendar, MDW–BUF peaks in February at 85.2% on-time while July carries the heaviest traffic (~97 flights per month) ; the softest month is June at 64.2%, a 21.0-point swing that repeats because the corridor's weather and holiday mix stays stable year to year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does MDW to BUF rank among US routes by traffic?
According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking, MDW to BUF ranks #2584 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 MDW to BUF?
Flights from Chicago to Buffalo have a 74.4% on-time rate based on 4,697 flights. The average delay is 55.3 minutes. The best recent month was Sep 2024 with 91% on-time.
What is the cancellation rate for MDW to BUF?
Over the last 24 months, 1.1% of flights on this route were cancelled (18 of 1,608 flights) and 0.0% were diverted.
How far is the flight from MDW to BUF?
The flight distance from Chicago (MDW) to Buffalo (BUF) is approximately 468 miles. This route is served by 1 carrier.
When is the best time to fly from MDW to BUF?
The best recent month for on-time performance was Sep 2024 (91% on-time). The worst was Jun 2024 (58% 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 MDW–BUF data

MDW–BUF sits 4.6 pts below the national 79% average; check the seasonal chart and airport profiles before treating the headline as typical.

  • Compare MDW and BUF airport profiles: delay causes and top routes differ even on the same corridor. MDW airport
  • If your dates flex, February (85.2% on-time) beats June (64.2%) on this corridor. Seasonal chart
  • 4 other routes post a similar 74.4% 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.