Mason City (MCW) to Chicago (ORD): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Delays are only half the story on MCW–ORD: 5% of its scheduled flights were outright cancelled, well above the US norm, so a backup plan matters more here than on most routes. When flights do go, 73% land on time, below the national average of 78%.
- On-time
- 73%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 32 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 5.0%
- Flights/day
- 1.7
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 28m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 288 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from MCW to ORD
Aim for departures around 12 p.m. (91% on-time); avoid 6 p.m. departures (55%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 71% | 38 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 81% | 20 min |
| Wednesday | 76% | 29 min |
| Thursday | 73% | 30 min |
| Friday | 67% | 36 min |
| Saturdaybest | 81% | 39 min |
| Sunday | 73% | 26 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft54%
- Airline operations24%
- National airspace system13%
- Weather10%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from MCW to ORD delayed?
- 27% of MCW–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 32 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from MCW to ORD?
- Departures around 12 p.m. have the best record (91% on-time), while departures around 6 p.m. have the worst (55%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from MCW to ORD?
- The scheduled MCW–ORD flight time averages 1h 28m over 288 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 27% of the time.
- How often are MCW to ORD flights cancelled?
- 5% 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 MCW to ORD?
- July 2024 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 52% of arrivals on time. The best was February 2025 at 91%. If your dates are flexible, that 39-point gap is worth planning around.
Explore related pages
Based on 1,161 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.