Kansas City (MCI) to Chicago (ORD): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Kansas City (MCI) to Chicago (ORD) effectively runs on two schedules. In September 2024, 92% of arrivals were on time; in December 2025 that fell to 65% — a 27-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 79% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (86% vs 66%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 79%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 20 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 2.0%
- Flights/day
- 11
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 43m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 403 mi
Best airline from MCI to ORD
5 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republic Airwaysmost reliable | 86% | 14 min | 1.9% | 1,026 |
| United Airlines | 80% | 16 min | 1.3% | 2,748 |
| American Airlines | 78% | 27 min | 1.7% | 1,108 |
| Envoy Air | 76% | 17 min | 2.6% | 1,563 |
| SkyWest Airlines | 74% | 28 min | 3.0% | 1,150 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from MCI to ORD
Aim for departures around 10 a.m. (90% on-time); avoid 5 p.m. departures (61%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 78% | 24 min |
| Tuesday | 80% | 18 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 81% | 18 min |
| Thursday | 81% | 17 min |
| Friday | 77% | 19 min |
| Saturday | 81% | 18 min |
| Sunday | 75% | 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 aircraft38%
- Airline operations24%
- National airspace system28%
- Weather10%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from MCI to ORD delayed?
- 21% of MCI–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 20 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from MCI to ORD?
- Republic Airways has the best on-time record on this route at 86%, based on 1,026 flights. 5 airlines flew MCI–ORD frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from MCI to ORD?
- Departures around 10 a.m. have the best record (90% on-time), while departures around 5 p.m. have the worst (61%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from MCI to ORD?
- The scheduled MCI–ORD flight time averages 1h 43m over 403 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 21% of the time.
- How often are MCI 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 MCI to ORD?
- December 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 65% of arrivals on time. The best was September 2024 at 92%. If your dates are flexible, that 27-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 7,635 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.