Saginaw/Bay City/Midland (MBS) to Chicago (ORD): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Saginaw/Bay City/Midland (MBS) to Chicago (ORD) effectively runs on two schedules. In September 2024, 84% of arrivals were on time; in January 2026 that fell to 51% — a 34-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 70% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (76% vs 50%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 70%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 32 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.9%
- Flights/day
- 2.8
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 31m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 222 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from MBS to ORD
Aim for departures around 12 p.m. (84% on-time); avoid 5 p.m. departures (41%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 69% | 34 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 79% | 19 min |
| Wednesday | 74% | 30 min |
| Thursday | 68% | 31 min |
| Friday | 63% | 40 min |
| Saturday | 75% | 29 min |
| Sunday | 66% | 38 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft32%
- Airline operations41%
- National airspace system18%
- Weather10%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from MBS to ORD delayed?
- 30% of MBS–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 32 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from MBS to ORD?
- Departures around 12 p.m. have the best record (84% on-time), while departures around 5 p.m. have the worst (41%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from MBS to ORD?
- The scheduled MBS–ORD flight time averages 1h 31m over 222 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 30% of the time.
- How often are MBS to ORD flights cancelled?
- 1.9% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-07 and 2026-07, slightly above the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from MBS to ORD?
- January 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 51% of arrivals on time. The best was September 2024 at 84%. If your dates are flexible, that 34-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 2,182 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.