Chicago (ORD) to Buffalo (BUF): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Chicago (ORD) to Buffalo (BUF) effectively runs on two schedules. In April 2025, 89% of arrivals were on time; in July 2025 that fell to 62% — a 27-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 73% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (85% vs 61%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 73%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 20 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 2.0%
- Flights/day
- 6.0
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 42m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 474 mi
Best airline from ORD to BUF
5 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Envoy Airmost reliable | 81% | 13 min | 1.3% | 1,097 |
| Republic Airways | 77% | 15 min | 3.2% | 648 |
| United Airlines | 75% | 18 min | 0.8% | 1,320 |
| SkyWest Airlines | 68% | 24 min | 4.4% | 502 |
| American Airlines | 60% | 35 min | 2.2% | 823 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from ORD to BUF
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (93% on-time); avoid 9 p.m. departures (41%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 73% | 22 min |
| Tuesday | 77% | 19 min |
| Wednesday | 73% | 20 min |
| Thursday | 75% | 19 min |
| Friday | 69% | 21 min |
| Saturdaybest | 78% | 18 min |
| Sunday | 70% | 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 aircraft48%
- Airline operations27%
- National airspace system16%
- Weather9%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from ORD to BUF delayed?
- 27% of ORD–BUF 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 20 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from ORD to BUF?
- Envoy Air has the best on-time record on this route at 81%, based on 1,097 flights. 5 airlines flew ORD–BUF frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from ORD to BUF?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (93% on-time), while departures around 9 p.m. have the worst (41%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from ORD to BUF?
- The scheduled ORD–BUF flight time averages 1h 42m over 474 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 27% of the time.
- How often are ORD to BUF flights cancelled?
- 2% 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 ORD to BUF?
- July 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 62% of arrivals on time. The best was April 2025 at 89%. If your dates are flexible, that 27-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 4,390 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.