Best Time to Fly HOU to MDW: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
William P Hobby → Chicago Midway International
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
1,840 flights were scheduled from Houston (HOU) to Chicago (MDW) in the last 12 months, and 71.9% of those that flew arrived on time, 5.7 points below the US average of 77.6%.
Southwest Airlines was the only reporting airline with regular flights on this route.
Over 24 months, Tuesday was the most reliable day (82% on time) and June the worst month (60%).
The cancellation rate was 1.1% (US average 1.8%).
HOU to MDW on-time performance by airline
Last 12 months. Airlines with fewer than 30 completed flights are marked “limited data”.
| Airline | On time | Avg delay when late | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Airlines | 71.9% | 49 min | 1.1% | 1,840 |
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly HOU to MDW
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 3,651 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5am–6am | 90.9% | 1.0% | 300 |
| 6am–7am | 92.0% | 1.2% | 331 |
| 7am–8am | 90.8% | 0.4% | 240 |
| 8am–9am | 84.2% | 1.0% | 199 |
| 9am–10am | 91.8% | 0.0% | 99 |
| 10am–11am | 85.5% | 0.0% | 71 |
| 11am–12pm | 84.0% | 3.1% | 222 |
| 12pm–1pm | 72.5% | 1.2% | 171 |
| 1pm–2pm | 75.2% | 0.8% | 126 |
| 2pm–3pm | 68.8% | 0.7% | 307 |
| 3pm–4pm | 66.1% | 0.0% | 185 |
| 4pm–5pm | 64.1% | 2.1% | 188 |
| 5pm–6pm | 76.1% | 1.4% | 144 |
| 6pm–7pm | 64.1% | 0.7% | 274 |
| 7pm–8pm | 71.6% | 0.6% | 163 |
| 8pm–9pm | 70.4% | 0.9% | 327 |
| 9pm–10pm | 67.0% | 1.6% | 191 |
| 10pm–11pm | 69.6% | 0.9% | 113 |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on HOU to MDW
On-time arrivals during holiday periods compared with all other days, last 24 months.
| Period | On time | vs other days | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving week (Tue before to Mon after) | 76.8% | -3.8 pts | 2.8% | 72 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 71.7% | -8.9 pts | 0.0% | 145 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 64.8% | -15.8 pts | 1.4% | 733 |
| All other days | 80.6% | — | 1.0% | 2,701 |
Monthly on-time trend
On-time arrival % each month, with the 12-month US average for reference.
What causes delays on this route
Share of reported delay minutes, last 12 months (BTS cause categories).