Chicago (ORD) to Columbia (COU): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
The biggest risk when flying ORD to COU isn't a late arrival — it's not departing at all. 3.2% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled, several times the typical US rate. When flights do go, 72% land on time, below the national average of 78%.
- On-time
- 72%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 23 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 3.2%
- Flights/day
- 5.4
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 32m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 315 mi
Best airline from ORD to COU
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Envoy Airmost reliable | 74% | 18 min | 2.4% | 1,931 |
| SkyWest Airlines | 66% | 34 min | 5.0% | 841 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from ORD to COU
Aim for departures around 11 a.m. (91% on-time); avoid 8 p.m. departures (60%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 72% | 21 min |
| Tuesday | 75% | 18 min |
| Wednesday | 69% | 22 min |
| Thursday | 72% | 23 min |
| Friday | 68% | 25 min |
| Saturdaybest | 75% | 19 min |
| Sunday | 70% | 29 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 operations23%
- National airspace system18%
- Weather12%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from ORD to COU delayed?
- 29% of ORD–COU 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 23 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from ORD to COU?
- Envoy Air has the best on-time record on this route at 74%, based on 1,931 flights. 2 airlines flew ORD–COU frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from ORD to COU?
- Departures around 11 a.m. have the best record (91% on-time), while departures around 8 p.m. have the worst (60%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from ORD to COU?
- The scheduled ORD–COU flight time averages 1h 32m over 315 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 29% of the time.
- How often are ORD to COU flights cancelled?
- 3.2% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-07 and 2026-07 — several times the typical US rate, so consider earlier departures or backup options.
- What is the worst month to fly from ORD to COU?
- July 2024 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 42% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 91%. If your dates are flexible, that 49-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 2,772 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.