New York (JFK) to Chicago (ORD): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
New York (JFK) to Chicago (ORD) has an unusually high scrub rate — 3.3% of scheduled departures never left the gate, a cancellation rate several times the national figure. When flights do go, 74% land on time, below the national average of 78%. Republic Airways has been the safer pick, arriving on time 79% of the time.
- On-time
- 74%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 25 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 3.3%
- Flights/day
- 5.4
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 53m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 740 mi
Best airline from JFK to ORD
5 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republic Airwaysmost reliable | 79% | 18 min | 4.1% | 1,305 |
| American Airlines | 76% | 28 min | 3.0% | 1,345 |
| SkyWest Airlines | 75% | 24 min | 2.9% | 546 |
| JetBlue Airways | 69% | 25 min | 2.7% | 1,066 |
| Frontier Airlines | 51% | 50 min | 4.3% | 116 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from JFK to ORD
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (88% on-time); avoid 4 p.m. departures (46%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 73% | 27 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 81% | 16 min |
| Wednesday | 76% | 26 min |
| Thursday | 74% | 23 min |
| Friday | 75% | 21 min |
| Saturday | 72% | 27 min |
| Sunday | 70% | 32 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft36%
- Airline operations30%
- National airspace system28%
- Weather6%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from JFK to ORD delayed?
- 26% of JFK–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 25 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from JFK to ORD?
- Republic Airways has the best on-time record on this route at 79%, based on 1,305 flights. 5 airlines flew JFK–ORD frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from JFK to ORD?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (88% on-time), while departures around 4 p.m. have the worst (46%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from JFK to ORD?
- The scheduled JFK–ORD flight time averages 2h 53m over 740 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 26% of the time.
- How often are JFK to ORD flights cancelled?
- 3.3% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05 — several times the typical US rate, so consider earlier departures or backup options.
- What is the worst month to fly from JFK to ORD?
- December 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 56% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 89%. If your dates are flexible, that 33-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 4,394 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.