75% of flights from Chicago to Birmingham arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is worse than the typical U.S. route. 8% 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 MDW → BHM: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 65% of the time. About 1 in 15 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 147 three hours or more; 1.1% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early75%
- 15–30 min late12%
- 30–60 min late5.2%
- 1–2 hours late3.9%
- 2–3 hours late2.0%
- 3+ hours late0.7%
- Diverted0.0%
- Cancelled1.1%
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 | 75% | 1.1% | −4 min | 6.6% | +54 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 MDW). 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: November (90%). Worst: July (59%).
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 4 · airline 1
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 Chicago or Birmingham. None has been clearly more reliable than MDW → BHM.
| Route | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| MDW → BHM (this route) | 440 | 75% | 1.1% |
| ORD → BHM Chicago O'Hare to Birmingham-Shuttlesworth | 1,925 | 69% | 3.0% |
Questions
How often are flights from MDW to BHM on time?
75% of 440 scheduled flights from Chicago, IL to Birmingham, AL arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 1.1% were cancelled.
What month has the most delays from MDW to BHM?
July (59% on time). The best month is November (90%), over 2023–2026.
Related
- BHM → MDW (return)
- Chicago Midway (MDW) delays by hour
- Flights into Birmingham-Shuttlesworth (BHM)
- 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.