Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD): Delays & On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD) in Rockford, IL is a middle-of-the-pack performer: 74% of departures are on time, within a few points of the national 78%. It hosts 1 airlines flying 3 departures a day to 9 destinations, with cancellations at 0.8%.
- Departures on-time
- 74%
- left <15 min late
- Avg dep delay
- 28 min
- Arrivals on-time
- 83%
- Cancelled
- 0.8%
- Destinations
- 9
- nonstop
- Airlines
- 1
Plan your departure from RFD
The choices most likely to improve your odds, based on this airport’s historical record.
- Best departure time
- Around 1 p.m.
- 85% on-time
- Best day to fly
- Tuesday
- 84% on-time
- Cancellation risk
- 0.8%
- below the US average
Monthly on-time trend
Best time of day to depart from RFD
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 68% | 37 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 84% | 23 min |
| Wednesday | 73% | 19 min |
| Thursday | 80% | 23 min |
| Friday | 64% | 37 min |
| Saturday | 73% | 18 min |
| Sunday | 75% | 30 min |
Busiest routes from RFD
| Route | Flights/12mo | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|---|
| RFD → PGD (Punta Gorda) | 220 | 76% | 24 min |
| RFD → AZA (Phoenix) | 184 | 74% | 19 min |
| RFD → SFB (Sanford) | 154 | 63% | 47 min |
| RFD → PIE (St. Petersburg) | 132 | 64% | 33 min |
| RFD → LAS (Las Vegas) | 104 | 79% | 21 min |
Where flights into RFD come from
| Route | Flights/12mo | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|---|
| PGD (Punta Gorda) → RFD | 220 | 87% | 10 min |
| AZA (Phoenix) → RFD | 184 | 84% | 11 min |
| SFB (Sanford) → RFD | 154 | 74% | 28 min |
| PIE (St. Petersburg) → RFD | 132 | 77% | 16 min |
| LAS (Las Vegas) → RFD | 104 | 89% | 8 min |
What causes delays at RFD
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT, weighted across routes departing RFD.
- Late-arriving aircraft48%
- Airline operations21%
- National airspace system17%
- Weather14%
- Security1%
Alternative airports near Rockford
Other airports within 120 miles, compared on departure reliability.
| Airport | Distance | On-time departures | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|---|
| ORD — Chicago O'Hare International Airport | 63 mi | 75% | 20 min |
| MSN — Dane County Regional Truax Field | 66 mi | 83% | 18 min |
| MDW — Chicago Midway International Airport | 75 mi | 74% | 16 min |
| MKE — General Mitchell International Airport | 80 mi | 81% | 16 min |
| MLI — Quad City International Airport | 89 mi | 81% | 19 min |
Compare the airport-level record first, then check the exact route you plan to book.
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights delayed at RFD?
- 26% of departures from Chicago Rockford International Airport left 15+ minutes late between 2024-07 and 2026-07, with an average departure delay of 28 minutes. The national on-time average over the same period was 78%.
- What is the best time of day to depart from RFD?
- Flights scheduled around 1 p.m. depart on time 85% of the time at RFD, versus 45% around 8 p.m.. Booking before noon is the usual rule of thumb here.
- How often are flights cancelled at RFD?
- 0.8% of scheduled departures from RFD were cancelled in this period, compared with a national rate of 1.6%.
Popular route pages from this airport
Related guides
Based on 1,967 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.