Chicago (ORD) to Lexington (LEX): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Chicago (ORD) to Lexington (LEX) effectively runs on two schedules. In October 2024, 94% of arrivals were on time; in July 2025 that fell to 56% — a 38-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 72% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (79% vs 68%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 72%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 23 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.6%
- Flights/day
- 4.9
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 30m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 323 mi
Best airline from ORD to LEX
3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republic Airwaysmost reliable | 90% | 4 min | 0.0% | 91 |
| SkyWest Airlines | 71% | 24 min | 1.9% | 2,241 |
| Envoy Air | 71% | 23 min | 1.0% | 723 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from ORD to LEX
Aim for departures around 9 a.m. (95% on-time); avoid 4 p.m. departures (43%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 72% | 24 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 78% | 23 min |
| Wednesday | 74% | 20 min |
| Thursday | 71% | 24 min |
| Friday | 69% | 27 min |
| Saturday | 75% | 18 min |
| Sunday | 66% | 28 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft28%
- Airline operations35%
- National airspace system16%
- Weather21%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from ORD to LEX delayed?
- 28% of ORD–LEX 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 23 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from ORD to LEX?
- Republic Airways has the best on-time record on this route at 90%, based on 91 flights. 3 airlines flew ORD–LEX frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from ORD to LEX?
- Departures around 9 a.m. have the best record (95% on-time), while departures around 4 p.m. have the worst (43%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from ORD to LEX?
- The scheduled ORD–LEX flight time averages 1h 30m over 323 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 28% of the time.
- How often are ORD to LEX 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 LEX?
- July 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 56% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 94%. If your dates are flexible, that 38-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 3,078 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.