Chicago (ORD) to Denver (DEN): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Chicago (ORD) to Denver (DEN) effectively runs on two schedules. In October 2024, 87% of arrivals were on time; in December 2025 that fell to 65% — a 22-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 (85% vs 64%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 76%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 19 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.0%
- Flights/day
- 17
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 49m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 888 mi
Best airline from ORD to DEN
5 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Airlinesmost reliable | 81% | 14 min | 0.8% | 1,728 |
| United Airlines | 79% | 16 min | 0.8% | 7,727 |
| Envoy Air | 77% | 13 min | 0.0% | 128 |
| Frontier Airlines | 70% | 38 min | 2.0% | 749 |
| American Airlines | 68% | 25 min | 1.4% | 2,767 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from ORD to DEN
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (93% on-time); avoid 10 p.m. departures (56%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 76% | 21 min |
| Tuesday | 79% | 16 min |
| Wednesday | 76% | 17 min |
| Thursday | 76% | 20 min |
| Friday | 74% | 20 min |
| Saturdaybest | 79% | 17 min |
| Sunday | 75% | 20 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft45%
- Airline operations29%
- National airspace system23%
- Weather4%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from ORD to DEN delayed?
- 24% of ORD–DEN 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 19 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from ORD to DEN?
- Southwest Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 81%, based on 1,728 flights. 5 airlines flew ORD–DEN frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from ORD to DEN?
- Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (93% on-time), while departures around 10 p.m. have the worst (56%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from ORD to DEN?
- The scheduled ORD–DEN flight time averages 2h 49m over 888 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 24% of the time.
- How often are ORD to DEN flights cancelled?
- 1% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-07 and 2026-07, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from ORD to DEN?
- December 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 65% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 87%. If your dates are flexible, that 22-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 13,099 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.