Chicago (ORD) to Missoula (MSO): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
When you fly ORD to MSO matters as much as anything else about the booking: the route swung from 98% on-time in May 2026 to just 50% in February 2026. Across the full period the route averages 79% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (80% vs 67%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 79%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 13 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.3%
- Flights/day
- 1.5
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 3h 48m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 1,332 mi
Best airline from ORD to MSO
3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SkyWest Airlinesmost reliable | 87% | 8 min | 1.2% | 86 |
| United Airlines | 85% | 9 min | 0.0% | 193 |
| Envoy Air | 75% | 15 min | 0.2% | 518 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from ORD to MSO
Aim for departures around 8 a.m. (87% on-time); avoid 8 p.m. departures (66%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 74% | 16 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 86% | 11 min |
| Wednesday | 80% | 12 min |
| Thursday | 81% | 8 min |
| Friday | 74% | 16 min |
| Saturday | 80% | 11 min |
| Sunday | 75% | 16 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft33%
- Airline operations24%
- National airspace system26%
- Weather17%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from ORD to MSO delayed?
- 22% of ORD–MSO 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 13 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from ORD to MSO?
- SkyWest Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 87%, based on 86 flights. 3 airlines flew ORD–MSO frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from ORD to MSO?
- Departures around 8 a.m. have the best record (87% on-time), while departures around 8 p.m. have the worst (66%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from ORD to MSO?
- The scheduled ORD–MSO flight time averages 3h 48m over 1,332 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 22% of the time.
- How often are ORD to MSO flights cancelled?
- 0.3% 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 MSO?
- February 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 50% of arrivals on time. The best was May 2026 at 98%. If your dates are flexible, that 48-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 797 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.