PlainFlights

Route · PDX → MDW · 2020–2025 BTS data

Portland to Chicago

According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking (BTS On-Time Performance total flights), PDX to MDW (Portland to Chicago) ranks #3369 of 4927 tracked domestic routes by total flights (most flights = #1).

Data updated 2026-06-13

88.5%
On-time
+9.5 pts
vs US avg
51 min
Delay when late
2,831
Flights
#3369 of 4927
Corpus placement

Cancelled

0.2%

Best Month

Oct 2024 93%

Worst Month

Jun 2024 78%

Distance

1,751 mi

Carriers

1

Monthly Performance

Recent 24 months of route data.

Period Flights Delayed Cancelled Diverted Carriers
Dec 2025 31 5 0 0 WN
Nov 2025 31 1 0 1 WN
Oct 2025 54 9 0 0 WN
Sep 2025 82 7 0 0 WN
Aug 2025 84 7 0 0 WN
Jul 2025 88 18 1 2 WN
Jun 2025 78 16 0 0 WN
May 2025 31 2 0 0 WN
Apr 2025 30 3 0 0 WN
Mar 2025 31 4 0 0 WN
Jan 2025 31 1 0 0 WN
Dec 2024 31 3 0 0 WN
Nov 2024 31 1 0 0 WN
Oct 2024 55 4 0 0 WN
Sep 2024 81 13 0 0 WN
Aug 2024 85 8 0 1 WN
Jul 2024 88 12 0 0 WN
Jun 2024 80 18 0 0 WN
May 2024 31 1 0 1 WN
Apr 2024 30 0 0 0 WN
Mar 2024 31 1 0 0 WN
Jan 2024 31 7 1 0 WN
Dec 2023 31 6 0 0 WN
Nov 2023 33 3 0 0 WN

PDX–MDW seasonal on-time pattern

Best: April (93.0%) · weakest: June (82.0%)

80%85%90%95% JanMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec 86.7%

Strongest calendar month

April

93.0% on-time · ~31 flights/mo

Busiest calendar month

August

~67 flights/mo avg

Weakest calendar month

June

82.0% on-time · ~61 flights/mo

Cancellation Rate

0.2%

2 of 1,209 flights

Diversion Rate

0.4%

5 of 1,209 flights

Origin-hub reliability standing

Among PDX's stronger departures

PDX → MDW posts a 88.5% on-time rate, landing in the ≥85% band with 26 of 44 BTS-tracked routes leaving Portland. The same hub also shows 17 mid-band and 1 challenged departures · fleet-wide on-time rank #333 of 4927 (highest on-time = #1).

What the Data Says About PDX to MDW

Portland to Chicago (PDX to MDW) is one of the more dependable pairings in the BTS On-Time Performance dataset: a 88.5% on-time rate across 2,831 flights, with delays that do happen averaging 50.7 minutes. The corridor runs roughly 1,751 miles and is served by 1 carrier. Over the most recent 24 months, 2 of 1,209 flights were cancelled (0.2%) and 5 diverted (0.4%).

The monthly split is wide on this route: Oct 2024 posted the strongest performance at 93% on-time, while Jun 2024 came in at just 78% - a 15-point swing worth factoring into travel timing.

On the multi-year calendar, PDX–MDW peaks in April at 93.0% on-time while August carries the heaviest traffic (~67 flights per month) ; the softest month is June at 82.0%, a 11.0-point swing that repeats because the corridor's weather and holiday mix stays stable year to year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does PDX to MDW rank among US routes by traffic?
According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking, PDX to MDW ranks #3369 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 PDX to MDW?
Flights from Portland to Chicago have a 88.5% on-time rate based on 2,831 flights. The average delay is 50.7 minutes. The best recent month was Oct 2024 with 93% on-time.
What is the cancellation rate for PDX to MDW?
Over the last 24 months, 0.2% of flights on this route were cancelled (2 of 1,209 flights) and 0.4% were diverted.
How far is the flight from PDX to MDW?
The flight distance from Portland (PDX) to Chicago (MDW) is approximately 1,751 miles. This route is served by 1 carrier.
When is the best time to fly from PDX to MDW?
The best recent month for on-time performance was Oct 2024 (93% on-time). The worst was Jun 2024 (78% 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 PDX–MDW data

PDX–MDW runs 9.5 pts above the national 79% average; the remaining risk is month-to-month swing and carrier mix, not a weak headline rate.

  • Compare PDX and MDW airport profiles: delay causes and top routes differ even on the same corridor. PDX airport
  • If your dates flex, April (93.0% on-time) beats June (82.0%) on this corridor. Seasonal chart
  • 4 other routes post a similar 88.5% 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.