Chicago (ORD) to Baltimore (BWI): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Chicago (ORD) to Baltimore (BWI) effectively runs on two schedules. In February 2025, 90% of arrivals were on time; in December 2025 that fell to 61% — a 29-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 76% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (86% vs 66%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 76%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 17 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.7%
- Flights/day
- 7.4
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 1m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 622 mi
Best airline from ORD to BWI
7 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Airlinesmost reliable | 79% | 16 min | 0.9% | 794 |
| Envoy Air | 77% | 15 min | 3.0% | 1,421 |
| United Airlines | 76% | 16 min | 1.0% | 2,163 |
| Republic Airways | 75% | 21 min | 2.9% | 341 |
| Frontier Airlines | 65% | 29 min | 4.0% | 150 |
| American Airlines | 63% | 25 min | 0.4% | 257 |
| SkyWest Airlines | 60% | 29 min | 1.4% | 73 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from ORD to BWI
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (93% on-time); avoid 7 p.m. departures (55%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 74% | 18 min |
| Tuesday | 79% | 16 min |
| Wednesday | 74% | 17 min |
| Thursday | 77% | 15 min |
| Friday | 71% | 19 min |
| Saturdaybest | 80% | 15 min |
| Sunday | 74% | 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 aircraft44%
- Airline operations25%
- National airspace system22%
- Weather8%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from ORD to BWI delayed?
- 25% of ORD–BWI 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 17 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from ORD to BWI?
- Southwest Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 79%, based on 794 flights. 7 airlines flew ORD–BWI frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from ORD to BWI?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (93% on-time), while departures around 7 p.m. have the worst (55%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from ORD to BWI?
- The scheduled ORD–BWI flight time averages 2h 1m over 622 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 25% of the time.
- How often are ORD to BWI flights cancelled?
- 1.7% 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 ORD to BWI?
- December 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 61% of arrivals on time. The best was February 2025 at 90%. If your dates are flexible, that 29-point gap is worth planning around.
Explore related pages
More routes from ORD
Based on 5,242 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.