Minneapolis (MSP) to Chicago (ORD): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Minneapolis (MSP) to Chicago (ORD) effectively runs on two schedules. In October 2024, 86% of arrivals were on time; in December 2025 that fell to 50% — a 36-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 74% 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
- 74%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 21 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.8%
- Flights/day
- 17
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 39m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 334 mi
Best airline from MSP to ORD
6 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlinesmost reliable | 79% | 25 min | 1.0% | 729 |
| Republic Airways | 78% | 19 min | 5.3% | 929 |
| United Airlines | 74% | 22 min | 1.0% | 4,908 |
| Envoy Air | 74% | 18 min | 2.0% | 2,108 |
| Delta Air Lines | 72% | 21 min | 1.5% | 3,451 |
| SkyWest Airlines | 69% | 28 min | 2.9% | 919 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from MSP to ORD
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (91% on-time); avoid 5 p.m. departures (58%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 74% | 21 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 78% | 18 min |
| Wednesday | 74% | 23 min |
| Thursday | 71% | 24 min |
| Friday | 69% | 25 min |
| Saturday | 77% | 16 min |
| Sunday | 72% | 22 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft31%
- Airline operations27%
- National airspace system36%
- Weather6%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from MSP to ORD delayed?
- 26% of MSP–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 21 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from MSP to ORD?
- American Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 79%, based on 729 flights. 6 airlines flew MSP–ORD frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from MSP to ORD?
- Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (91% on-time), while departures around 5 p.m. have the worst (58%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from MSP to ORD?
- The scheduled MSP–ORD flight time averages 1h 39m over 334 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 26% of the time.
- How often are MSP to ORD flights cancelled?
- 1.8% 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 MSP to ORD?
- December 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 50% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 86%. If your dates are flexible, that 36-point gap is worth planning around.
Explore related pages
- Return route: ORD to MSP on-time stats
- Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field departure performance
- Chicago O'Hare International Airport airport reliability
- United Airlines on-time record
- Delta Air Lines on-time record
- Envoy Air on-time record
- Republic Airways on-time record
More routes from MSP
Other ways to fly to Chicago (ORD)
Related guides
Based on 13,105 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.