Chicago (ORD) to Fort Lauderdale (FLL): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
When you fly ORD to FLL matters as much as anything else about the booking: the route swung from 89% on-time in October 2024 to just 57% in March 2026. Across the full period the route averages 75% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (81% vs 64%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 75%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 19 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.6%
- Flights/day
- 9.4
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 3h 10m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 1,182 mi
Best airline from ORD to FLL
4 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlinesmost reliable | 80% | 14 min | 0.8% | 2,663 |
| American Airlines | 74% | 21 min | 1.4% | 1,222 |
| Spirit Airlines | 71% | 25 min | 2.6% | 2,208 |
| Frontier Airlines | 66% | 34 min | 4.1% | 121 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from ORD to FLL
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (90% on-time); avoid 8 p.m. departures (52%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 73% | 21 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 80% | 17 min |
| Wednesday | 80% | 15 min |
| Thursday | 78% | 17 min |
| Friday | 72% | 23 min |
| Saturday | 74% | 19 min |
| Sunday | 71% | 24 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft35%
- Airline operations26%
- National airspace system33%
- Weather6%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from ORD to FLL delayed?
- 25% of ORD–FLL 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 19 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from ORD to FLL?
- United Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 80%, based on 2,663 flights. 4 airlines flew ORD–FLL frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from ORD to FLL?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (90% on-time), while departures around 8 p.m. have the worst (52%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from ORD to FLL?
- The scheduled ORD–FLL flight time averages 3h 10m over 1,182 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 25% of the time.
- How often are ORD to FLL flights cancelled?
- 1.6% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from ORD to FLL?
- March 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 57% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 89%. If your dates are flexible, that 32-point gap is worth planning around.
Explore related pages
More routes from ORD
Based on 6,247 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.