FlightRecord

Missoula (MSO) to Chicago (ORD): On-Time Performance

Data through May 2026

Missoula (MSO) to Chicago (ORD) effectively runs on two schedules. In May 2026, 93% of arrivals were on time; in July 2025 that fell to 59% — a 33-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 72% on-time against a national 78%.

On-time
72%
arrived <15 min late
Avg delay
19 min
completed flights
Cancelled
0.4%
Flights/day
1.5
last 12 months
Duration
3h 27m
scheduled
Distance
1,332 mi

Best airline from MSO to ORD

3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.

AirlineOn-timeAvg delayCancelledFlights
SkyWest Airlinesmost reliable79%15 min1.2%86
United Airlines73%18 min0.5%193
Envoy Air70%20 min0.2%518

Monthly on-time trend

Monthly on-time percentage for MSO to ORD flights50%75%100%June 2024: 73% on-time (56 flights)73Jun 2024July 2024: 66% on-time (62 flights)66August 2024: 74% on-time (62 flights)74September 2024: 80% on-time (55 flights)80Sep 2024October 2024: 83% on-time (6 flights)83May 2025: 100% on-time (10 flights)100June 2025: 82% on-time (81 flights)82Jun 2025July 2025: 59% on-time (92 flights)59August 2025: 65% on-time (89 flights)65September 2025: 76% on-time (73 flights)76Sep 2025October 2025: 77% on-time (35 flights)77December 2025: 43% on-time (14 flights)43January 2026: 68% on-time (31 flights)68Jan 2026February 2026: 71% on-time (28 flights)71March 2026: 61% on-time (31 flights)61April 2026: 70% on-time (30 flights)70Apr 2026May 2026: 93% on-time (42 flights)93

Best time to fly from MSO to ORD

Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (90% on-time); avoid 12 p.m. departures (70%).

On-time percentage by scheduled departure hour, MSO to ORD5 a.m.: 90% on-time (51 flights)56 a.m.: 85% on-time (53 flights)612 p.m.: 70% on-time (517 flights)121 p.m.: 70% on-time (165 flights)13scheduled departure hour

By day of week

DayOn-timeAvg delay
Monday68%13 min
Tuesday72%25 min
Wednesday76%16 min
Thursdaybest82%7 min
Friday67%27 min
Saturday75%20 min
Sunday66%23 min

What causes delays on this route

Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.

  • Late-arriving aircraft42%
  • Airline operations25%
  • National airspace system28%
  • Weather5%

Frequently asked questions

How often are flights from MSO to ORD delayed?
28% of MSO–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 19 minutes.
Which airline is most reliable from MSO to ORD?
SkyWest Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 79%, based on 86 flights. 3 airlines flew MSO–ORD frequently enough to compare in this period.
What is the best time of day to fly from MSO to ORD?
Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (90% on-time), while departures around 12 p.m. have the worst (70%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
How long is the flight from MSO to ORD?
The scheduled MSO–ORD flight time averages 3h 27m over 1,332 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 28% of the time.
How often are MSO to ORD flights cancelled?
0.4% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
What is the worst month to fly from MSO to ORD?
July 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 59% of arrivals on time. The best was May 2026 at 93%. If your dates are flexible, that 33-point gap is worth planning around.

Based on 797 flights, 2024-062026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.