Denver (DEN) to Chicago (ORD): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Denver (DEN) to Chicago (ORD) effectively runs on two schedules. In October 2024, 86% of arrivals were on time; in July 2025 that fell to 56% — a 30-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 (83% vs 64%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 73%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 23 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.9%
- Flights/day
- 17
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 36m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 888 mi
Best airline from DEN to ORD
5 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlinesmost reliable | 75% | 29 min | 1.6% | 2,765 |
| United Airlines | 73% | 21 min | 0.7% | 7,721 |
| Southwest Airlines | 73% | 17 min | 0.3% | 1,712 |
| Envoy Air | 72% | 16 min | 0.8% | 128 |
| Frontier Airlines | 64% | 34 min | 1.7% | 748 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DEN to ORD
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (92% on-time); avoid 6 p.m. departures (56%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 74% | 23 min |
| Tuesday | 75% | 20 min |
| Wednesday | 73% | 21 min |
| Thursday | 72% | 23 min |
| Friday | 72% | 23 min |
| Saturdaybest | 76% | 23 min |
| Sunday | 69% | 25 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft40%
- Airline operations27%
- National airspace system29%
- Weather4%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DEN to ORD delayed?
- 27% of DEN–ORD flights arrived 15 or more minutes late (the US DOT definition of a delay) between 2024-07 and 2026-07. The average arrival delay across completed flights was 23 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from DEN to ORD?
- American Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 75%, based on 2,765 flights. 5 airlines flew DEN–ORD frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DEN to ORD?
- Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (92% on-time), while departures around 6 p.m. have the worst (56%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from DEN to ORD?
- The scheduled DEN–ORD flight time averages 2h 36m over 888 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 27% of the time.
- How often are DEN to ORD flights cancelled?
- 0.9% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-07 and 2026-07, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from DEN to ORD?
- July 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 56% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 86%. If your dates are flexible, that 30-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 13,074 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.