Dallas (DAL) to Chicago (ORD): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Dallas (DAL) to Chicago (ORD) effectively runs on two schedules. In January 2025, 99% of arrivals were on time; in May 2026 that fell to 58% — a 40-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 78% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (89% vs 62%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 78%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 15 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.9%
- Flights/day
- 1.7
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 24m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 798 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DAL to ORD
Aim for departures around 9 a.m. (94% on-time); avoid 1 p.m. departures (58%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Mondaybest | 83% | 12 min |
| Tuesday | 83% | 12 min |
| Wednesday | 80% | 14 min |
| Thursday | 77% | 15 min |
| Friday | 73% | 16 min |
| Saturday | 81% | 15 min |
| Sunday | 71% | 21 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft42%
- Airline operations25%
- National airspace system30%
- Weather4%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DAL to ORD delayed?
- 22% of DAL–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 15 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DAL to ORD?
- Departures around 9 a.m. have the best record (94% on-time), while departures around 1 p.m. have the worst (58%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from DAL to ORD?
- The scheduled DAL–ORD flight time averages 2h 24m over 798 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 22% of the time.
- How often are DAL to ORD flights cancelled?
- 0.9% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from DAL to ORD?
- May 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 58% of arrivals on time. The best was January 2025 at 99%. If your dates are flexible, that 40-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 1,615 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.