PlainFlights

Route · MDW → PHL · 2020–2025 BTS data

Chicago to Philadelphia

According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking (BTS On-Time Performance total flights), MDW to PHL (Chicago to Philadelphia) ranks #1453 of 4927 tracked domestic routes by total flights (most flights = #1).

Data updated 2026-06-13

75.7%
On-time
-3.3 pts
vs US avg
63 min
Delay when late
8,393
Flights
#1453 of 4927
Corpus placement

Cancelled

1.0%

Best Month

Feb 2025 87%

Worst Month

Jul 2025 64%

Distance

668 mi

Carriers

3

Monthly Performance

Recent 24 months of route data.

Period Flights Delayed Cancelled Diverted Carriers
Dec 2025 122 41 0 0 WN,F9
Nov 2025 136 24 7 0 F9,WN
Oct 2025 155 28 0 0 WN,F9
Sep 2025 159 28 0 0 WN,F9
Aug 2025 155 36 1 1 WN,F9
Jul 2025 153 55 4 0 WN,F9
Jun 2025 147 52 0 0 WN,F9
May 2025 128 34 0 0 WN,F9
Apr 2025 121 25 0 1 F9,WN
Mar 2025 89 17 1 0 WN
Feb 2025 85 11 0 0 WN
Jan 2025 103 17 4 0 WN,F9
Dec 2024 142 28 0 0 F9,WN
Nov 2024 156 23 0 0 WN,F9
Oct 2024 177 35 1 1 WN,F9
Sep 2024 186 33 1 0 WN,F9
Aug 2024 181 53 1 1 F9,WN
Jul 2024 153 48 4 1 F9,WN
Jun 2024 146 40 1 0 F9,WN
May 2024 145 47 0 0 F9,WN
Apr 2024 140 38 0 1 F9,WN
Mar 2024 131 19 0 0 F9,WN
Feb 2024 95 13 0 0 WN
Jan 2024 122 35 8 0 F9,WN

MDW–PHL seasonal on-time pattern

Best: February (86.5%) · weakest: June (65.9%)

60%65%70%75%80%85%90% JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec 72.2%

Strongest calendar month

February

86.5% on-time · ~86 flights/mo

Busiest calendar month

August

~145 flights/mo avg

Weakest calendar month

June

65.9% on-time · ~125 flights/mo

Cancellation Rate

1.0%

33 of 3,327 flights

Diversion Rate

0.2%

6 of 3,327 flights

Origin-hub reliability standing

Mid-pack among MDW departures

From MDW, this corridor sits with 51 other 75–85% on-time routes out of 69 tracked departures, not the hub's reliability leaders (0 at ≥85%) and not the softest ( 18 below 75%). Destination: Philadelphia · fleet on-time rank #4365 of 4927.

What the Data Says About MDW to PHL

The Chicago to Philadelphia corridor (MDW to PHL) posts a 75.7% on-time rate on the lower edge of the average band, based on 8,393 tracked flights. Late flights run 62.7 minutes behind on average. 3 carriers cover the 668-mile route; over the last 24 months, 33 of 3,327 flights were cancelled (1.0%) and 0.2% diverted.

The monthly split is wide on this route: Feb 2025 posted the strongest performance at 87% on-time, while Jul 2025 came in at just 64% - a 23-point swing worth factoring into travel timing.

On the multi-year calendar, MDW–PHL peaks in February at 86.5% on-time while August carries the heaviest traffic (~145 flights per month) ; the softest month is June at 65.9%, a 20.6-point swing that repeats because the corridor's weather and holiday mix stays stable year to year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does MDW to PHL rank among US routes by traffic?
According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking, MDW to PHL ranks #1453 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 PHL?
Flights from Chicago to Philadelphia have a 75.7% on-time rate based on 8,393 flights. The average delay is 62.7 minutes. The best recent month was Feb 2025 with 87% on-time.
What is the cancellation rate for MDW to PHL?
Over the last 24 months, 1.0% of flights on this route were cancelled (33 of 3,327 flights) and 0.2% were diverted.
How far is the flight from MDW to PHL?
The flight distance from Chicago (MDW) to Philadelphia (PHL) is approximately 668 miles. This route is served by 3 carriers.
When is the best time to fly from MDW to PHL?
The best recent month for on-time performance was Feb 2025 (87% on-time). The worst was Jul 2025 (64% 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–PHL data

MDW–PHL is mid-pack at 75.7% on-time; month and carrier mix move more than the corridor headline.

  • Compare MDW and PHL airport profiles: delay causes and top routes differ even on the same corridor. MDW airport
  • If your dates flex, February (86.5% on-time) beats June (65.9%) on this corridor. Seasonal chart
  • 4 other routes post a similar 75.7% 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.