Memphis (MEM) to Chicago (ORD): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
When you fly MEM to ORD matters as much as anything else about the booking: the route swung from 91% on-time in November 2024 to just 65% in January 2026. Across the full period the route averages 77% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (83% vs 66%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 77%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 18 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 2.0%
- Flights/day
- 6.7
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 60m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 491 mi
Best airline from MEM to ORD
4 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlinesmost reliable | 84% | 14 min | 2.7% | 679 |
| Republic Airways | 78% | 17 min | 2.7% | 704 |
| Envoy Air | 78% | 14 min | 2.0% | 1,621 |
| SkyWest Airlines | 72% | 24 min | 1.5% | 1,303 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from MEM to ORD
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (93% on-time); avoid 4 p.m. departures (51%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 78% | 21 min |
| Tuesday | 77% | 18 min |
| Wednesday | 78% | 17 min |
| Thursday | 76% | 18 min |
| Friday | 73% | 19 min |
| Saturdaybest | 80% | 15 min |
| Sunday | 75% | 18 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft37%
- Airline operations28%
- National airspace system27%
- Weather7%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from MEM to ORD delayed?
- 23% of MEM–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 18 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from MEM to ORD?
- United Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 84%, based on 679 flights. 4 airlines flew MEM–ORD frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from MEM to ORD?
- Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (93% on-time), while departures around 4 p.m. have the worst (51%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from MEM to ORD?
- The scheduled MEM–ORD flight time averages 1h 60m over 491 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 23% of the time.
- How often are MEM 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 MEM to ORD?
- January 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 65% of arrivals on time. The best was November 2024 at 91%. If your dates are flexible, that 26-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 4,324 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.