Memphis (MEM) to Chicago (ORD): On-Time Performance
Data through July 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 76% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (84% vs 62%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 76%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 18 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 2.4%
- Flights/day
- 6.9
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 1m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 491 mi
Best airline from MEM to ORD
4 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlinesmost reliable | 84% | 13 min | 2.7% | 714 |
| Envoy Air | 78% | 14 min | 2.1% | 1,739 |
| Republic Airways | 77% | 17 min | 3.6% | 743 |
| SkyWest Airlines | 70% | 26 min | 2.0% | 1,398 |
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 (50%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 77% | 21 min |
| Tuesday | 77% | 17 min |
| Wednesday | 78% | 17 min |
| Thursday | 77% | 17 min |
| Friday | 73% | 20 min |
| Saturdaybest | 79% | 16 min |
| Sunday | 73% | 20 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 operations26%
- National airspace system28%
- Weather8%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from MEM to ORD delayed?
- 24% of MEM–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 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 714 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 (50%). 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 2h 1m over 491 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 24% of the time.
- How often are MEM to ORD flights cancelled?
- 2.4% 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 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 4,611 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.