85% of flights from Birmingham to Chicago arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is better than the typical U.S. route. 5% of flights arrived more than an hour late or not at all.
How late?
The on-time rate treats a flight 20 minutes late the same as one 5 hours late. Here's the split for BHM → MDW: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 62% of the time. About 1 in 29 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 440 three hours or more; 0.7% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early85%
- 15–30 min late5.5%
- 30–60 min late5.0%
- 1–2 hours late2.3%
- 2–3 hours late0.9%
- 3+ hours late0.2%
- Diverted0.9%
- Cancelled0.7%
Share of all 440 scheduled flights, past 12 months, by arrival time against schedule.
By airline
| Airline | Flights | On time | Cancelled | Typical arrival | 1h+ late | Avg when late | Operated by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Airlines | 440 | 85% | 0.7% | −6 min | 3.4% | +55 min | Southwest Airlines |
Airline = the name on the ticket. Regional flights (e.g. "Delta Connection") count under the ticketing airline, and the operator is listed.
Best time of day to fly
On-time rate by scheduled departure hour (local time at BHM). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
By month
Each calendar month pooled over 2023–2026. Best: April (89%). Worst: June (77%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 68 | — | — |
| Tuesday | 59 | — | — |
| Wednesday | 57 | — | — |
| Thursday | 64 | — | — |
| Friday | 68 | — | — |
| Saturday | 47 | — | — |
| Sunday | 77 | — | — |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: weather 3
Month by month
Not enough months with data to draw a trend.
Nearby airport alternatives
Other ways to make the same trip, using airports within 60 miles of Birmingham or Chicago. None has been clearly more reliable than BHM → MDW.
| Route | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| BHM → MDW (this route) | 440 | 85% | 0.7% |
| BHM → ORD Birmingham-Shuttlesworth to Chicago O'Hare | 1,927 | 74% | 2.3% |
Questions
How often are flights from BHM to MDW on time?
85% of 440 scheduled flights from Birmingham, AL to Chicago, IL arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 0.7% were cancelled.
What month has the most delays from BHM to MDW?
June (77% on time). The best month is April (89%), over 2023–2026.
Related
- MDW → BHM (return)
- Birmingham-Shuttlesworth (BHM) delays by hour
- Flights into Chicago Midway (MDW)
- Southwest Airlines on-time record
- Connecting off this flight? Check the risk
Domestic flights by the airlines that report to the U.S. DOT, plus their regional partners. "On time" means arriving less than 15 minutes after schedule; cancelled and diverted flights count as not on time. Past performance is a guide, not a forecast. Method.