Saginaw/Bay City/Midland (MBS) to Chicago (ORD): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Saginaw/Bay City/Midland (MBS) to Chicago (ORD) effectively runs on two schedules. In June 2024, 86% of arrivals were on time; in January 2026 that fell to 51% — a 36-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 71% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (77% vs 50%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 71%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 31 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 2.0%
- Flights/day
- 2.9
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 30m
- 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 | 71% | 32 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 79% | 19 min |
| Wednesday | 73% | 30 min |
| Thursday | 68% | 31 min |
| Friday | 64% | 39 min |
| Saturday | 77% | 29 min |
| Sunday | 66% | 37 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 operations42%
- National airspace system18%
- Weather9%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from MBS to ORD delayed?
- 29% of MBS–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 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 30m over 222 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 29% of the time.
- How often are MBS to ORD flights cancelled?
- 2% 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 MBS to ORD?
- January 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 51% of arrivals on time. The best was June 2024 at 86%. If your dates are flexible, that 36-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 2,150 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.