Decatur (DEC) to Chicago (ORD): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Decatur (DEC) to Chicago (ORD) effectively runs on two schedules. In October 2024, 93% of arrivals were on time; in January 2026 that fell to 60% — a 33-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 73% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (81% vs 59%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 73%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 31 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 2.7%
- Flights/day
- 1.7
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 10m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 156 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DEC to ORD
Aim for departures around 9 a.m. (83% on-time); avoid 7 p.m. departures (57%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Mondaybest | 77% | 34 min |
| Tuesday | 75% | 24 min |
| Wednesday | 75% | 36 min |
| Thursday | 70% | 32 min |
| Friday | 73% | 26 min |
| Saturday | 69% | 28 min |
| Sunday | 68% | 30 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft39%
- Airline operations42%
- National airspace system13%
- Weather6%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DEC to ORD delayed?
- 27% of DEC–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 31 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DEC to ORD?
- Departures around 9 a.m. have the best record (83% on-time), while departures around 7 p.m. have the worst (57%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from DEC to ORD?
- The scheduled DEC–ORD flight time averages 1h 10m over 156 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 27% of the time.
- How often are DEC to ORD flights cancelled?
- 2.7% 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 DEC to ORD?
- January 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 60% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 93%. If your dates are flexible, that 33-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 1,254 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.