Written by the Pharaoh’s Transportation dispatch team, 5151 S Howell Ave, Milwaukee. Our office is 2 minutes from the MKE pickup line; every chauffeur is background-checked, licensed and insured.
Quick answer: In 2025, Midway had the best on-time arrivals of the three (79.0%) and the fewest cancellations (1.14%). MKE had the best on-time departures (79.3%), and O’Hare trailed on both, with the most cancellations (1.84%). July is the worst month at all three, and 2026 has been rougher everywhere so far. The figures come from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s monthly reports. Pharaoh’s Transportation flight-tracks every pickup at all three airports.
Flying from MKE, O’Hare or Midway?
Every pickup is flight-tracked. Book your ride with an upfront price.
In this guide
- The short answer in one table
- What “on time” means
- Month by month in 2025
- 2026 so far
- How O’Hare and Midway rank nationally
- What the data means for your ride
- Choosing between the three airports
- Sources
- Quick facts
- Frequently asked questions
- About the dispatch team
The short answer in one table
| Airport | 2024 arrivals / departures on time | 2025 arrivals / departures on time | 2026, Jan to Aug | Cancelled flights 2024 / 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee (MKE) | 76.9% / 81.8% | 74.5% / 79.3% | 70.4% / 76.7% | 1.33% / 1.65% |
| Chicago O’Hare (ORD) | 77.9% / 76.8% | 73.0% / 73.7% | 70.4% / 70.3% | 1.41% / 1.84% |
| Chicago Midway (MDW) | 79.9% / 74.7% | 79.0% / 74.7% | 72.5% / 66.4% | 1.20% / 1.14% |
| U.S. average | 78.1% arrivals | 76.4% arrivals | 1.36% / 1.53% |
On-time percentages are flight-weighted yearly averages we calculated from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s monthly Air Travel Consumer Reports (Table 5). Cancellation rates are from an analysis of Bureau of Transportation Statistics data. “On time” means within 15 minutes of schedule.
- MKE departures are the most reliable: about 4 in 5 flights leave on time.
- Midway arrivals are the most reliable, and Midway cancels the fewest flights.
- O’Hare had the most cancellations of the three in 2025.
- 2026 has been rougher at all three, especially Midway departures.
What “on time” means
The Department of Transportation counts a flight as on time if it arrives at or leaves the gate less than 15 minutes after its scheduled time. A flight 14 minutes late is on time; one 15 minutes late is not. Cancelled and diverted flights are counted separately.
Month by month in 2025
Each cell shows arrivals / departures on time.
| 2025 | O’Hare | Midway | MKE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 78.9/78.9 | 81.3/79.7 | 76.7/82.5 |
| Feb | 77.5/77.7 | 83.5/82.8 | 75.4/81.6 |
| Mar | 77.5/77.3 | 82.0/78.3 | 76.8/81.9 |
| Apr | 79.0/80.9 | 83.8/81.4 | 79.2/84.1 |
| May | 78.5/79.9 | 79.5/75.9 | 74.3/80.2 |
| Jun | 70.3/70.2 | 75.4/66.3 | 68.8/76.1 |
| Jul | 63.0/62.9 | 70.5/62.4 | 67.6/73.4 |
| Aug | 70.9/71.0 | 78.2/73.4 | 73.2/77.7 |
| Sep | 79.1/78.3 | 85.5/81.8 | 82.1/84.1 |
| Oct | 73.8/76.6 | 81.6/77.8 | 79.4/81.2 |
| Nov | 68.3/71.3 | 77.1/75.5 | 75.0/78.3 |
| Dec | 64.1/63.1 | 72.3/67.8 | 67.1/71.8 |
The pattern: July is the worst month at all three airports, when summer thunderstorms snarl the whole Chicago airspace. December is next, with winter storms and holiday crowds. September and April are the most reliable months.
2026 so far
| 2026 | O’Hare | Midway | MKE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 67.9/67.9 | 80.8/79.8 | 70.5/75.1 |
| Feb | 76.7/76.8 | 80.7/78.1 | 74.8/81.8 |
| Mar | 63.7/65.0 | 66.6/60.0 | 65.5/69.5 |
| Apr | 70.4/70.9 | 78.3/76.4 | 73.7/80.7 |
| May | 77.5/75.9 | 73.7/68.3 | 75.7/81.2 |
| Jun | 71.3/70.8 | 68.8/59.4 | 69.3/77.4 |
| Jul | 70.1/68.8 | 68.4/57.4 | 65.2/72.9 |
| Aug | 65.8/66.5 | 68.6/60.8 | 69.7/75.6 |
On-time rates dropped at all three airports in 2026. Midway’s departures fell hardest, under 60% in June and July. March 2026 was a weak month everywhere.
How O’Hare and Midway rank nationally
The DOT reports 30 large U.S. airports each month (MKE is smaller, so it isn’t in that group). Ranking those tables ourselves:
| Month | O’Hare arrivals | O’Hare departures | Midway arrivals | Midway departures |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2025 | 25th of 30 | 25th | 8th | 19th |
| October 2025 | 25th | 21st | 8th | 19th |
| December 2025 | 28th | 29th | 15th | 23rd |
Midway usually lands in the top half for arrivals; O’Hare sits near the bottom in busy months.
What the data means for your ride
| If you’re flying… | Plan for |
|---|---|
| In July or December | More delays and cancellations; choose a car service with flight tracking |
| Out of O’Hare in summer | Afternoon storms; morning flights tend to hold up better |
| From MKE | The most reliable departures of the three |
| Into Midway | Good arrival odds, but 2026 departures have run late |
| On the last flight of the day | A cancellation means a hotel or a late ride home; know your backup |
Every Pharaoh’s airport pickup is flight-tracked, so a late arrival moves your pickup automatically. If your flight is cancelled, see getting home to Milwaukee after a cancellation at O’Hare. Flying in winter? Read when to leave for O’Hare in winter.
Flight running late?
We track every flight we pick up and adjust automatically. Book your airport ride now.
Choosing between the three airports
On-time numbers are one factor; nonstop routes, fares and the drive matter too. For where to meet your chauffeur, see the O’Hare terminal pickup guide and the Midway pickup guide. For MKE’s airlines and routes, see MKE by the numbers, and for the full comparison, MKE vs O’Hare vs Midway.
Sources
- U.S. Department of Transportation, Air Travel Consumer Reports, monthly issues covering January 2024 to August 2026 (Table 5: on-time arrivals and departures by airport; Table 1C and 6B: national rates). Revised issues used where published.
- Bureau of Transportation Statistics on-time definition (less than 15 minutes after schedule).
- Airport cancellation rates: InsureMyTrip analysis of BTS data (updated 2026).
- Year-to-date departure figures cross-checked against BTS figures reported by FOX6 (September 2026).
Quick facts
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| On-time definition | Less than 15 minutes late |
| Most on-time departures | MKE (79.3% in 2025) |
| Most on-time arrivals | Midway (79.0% in 2025) |
| Fewest cancellations | Midway (1.14% in 2025) |
| Most cancellations of the three | O’Hare (1.84% in 2025) |
| Worst month | July |
| Best months | September and April |
| 2026 trend | Lower on-time rates at all three |
| Data source | U.S. DOT Air Travel Consumer Reports |
Frequently asked questions
Which Chicago-area airport is most on time?
In 2025, Midway had the best on-time arrivals (79.0%) and MKE the best departures (79.3%). O’Hare trailed both.
Is O’Hare or Midway better for delays?
Midway had better on-time arrivals and fewer cancellations than O’Hare in both 2024 and 2025.
Is MKE more reliable than O’Hare?
For departures, yes: 79.3% left on time in 2025, versus 73.7% at O’Hare.
What counts as an on-time flight?
A flight that arrives or departs less than 15 minutes after its scheduled time.
What is the worst month to fly from Chicago or Milwaukee?
July, because of summer thunderstorms, followed by December.
What is the best month for on-time flights?
September and April were the most reliable months in 2025.
How often are flights cancelled at O’Hare?
1.84% of flights in 2025 and 1.41% in 2024.
Have delays gotten worse in 2026?
Yes. On-time rates from January to August 2026 were lower at all three airports than in 2025.
Where does this data come from?
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s monthly Air Travel Consumer Reports, based on airline-reported flight data.
What happens to my car service if my flight is late?
With Pharaoh’s, pickups are flight-tracked and adjust to your actual landing time.
What if my flight is cancelled?
Call dispatch. We can move your ride to your rebooked flight, or drive you home tonight instead of waiting.
How do I book an airport ride?
Book online or call (414) 322-3751. Every airport pickup includes flight tracking.
About the dispatch team
This guide was written by the Pharaoh’s Transportation dispatch team, which books and tracks MKE, O’Hare and Midway rides every day. Pharaoh’s Transportation is a top-rated Milwaukee limo and car service with its office and fleet at 5151 S Howell Ave, Suite D1 & D2, Milwaukee, WI 53207, 2 minutes from MKE. Pharaoh’s also operates two divisions, Milwaukee to O’Hare (milwaukeetoohare.com) and Wisconsin Limo Service (wisconsinlimoservice.com), with the same office and dispatch team. Our fleet includes Chevy Suburbans and Cadillac Escalades, a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, an Executive Sprinter and a 14-passenger van. Reservations: (414) 322-3751. Airport rules in this guide were checked against Chicago Department of Aviation information in October 2026; signs at the airport always take priority.
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