Cincinnati (CVG) to Chicago (ORD): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
When you fly CVG to ORD matters as much as anything else about the booking: the route swung from 85% on-time in October 2024 to just 56% in December 2025. Across the full period the route averages 74% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (80% vs 59%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 74%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 23 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 2.2%
- Flights/day
- 13
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 32m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 264 mi
Best airline from CVG to ORD
5 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republic Airwaysmost reliable | 81% | 15 min | 2.3% | 2,126 |
| Envoy Air | 74% | 22 min | 1.7% | 2,420 |
| United Airlines | 73% | 21 min | 1.6% | 1,801 |
| SkyWest Airlines | 66% | 36 min | 3.9% | 1,304 |
| American Airlines | 42% | 45 min | 1.5% | 68 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from CVG to ORD
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (92% on-time); avoid 6 p.m. departures (55%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 74% | 20 min |
| Tuesday | 76% | 21 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 78% | 18 min |
| Thursday | 72% | 26 min |
| Friday | 71% | 26 min |
| Saturday | 76% | 20 min |
| Sunday | 71% | 26 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft31%
- Airline operations27%
- National airspace system34%
- Weather8%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from CVG to ORD delayed?
- 26% of CVG–ORD flights arrived 15 or more minutes late (the US DOT definition of a delay) between 2024-06 and 2026-05. The average arrival delay across completed flights was 23 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from CVG to ORD?
- Republic Airways has the best on-time record on this route at 81%, based on 2,126 flights. 5 airlines flew CVG–ORD frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from CVG to ORD?
- Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (92% on-time), while departures around 6 p.m. have the worst (55%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from CVG to ORD?
- The scheduled CVG–ORD flight time averages 1h 32m over 264 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 26% of the time.
- How often are CVG to ORD flights cancelled?
- 2.2% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05, slightly above the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from CVG to ORD?
- December 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 56% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 85%. If your dates are flexible, that 29-point gap is worth planning around.
Explore related pages
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Based on 7,756 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.