FlightRecord

Chicago (ORD) to Phoenix (PHX): On-Time Performance

Data through May 2026

Chicago (ORD) to Phoenix (PHX) effectively runs on two schedules. In October 2024, 89% of arrivals were on time; in July 2025 that fell to 64% — a 25-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 77% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (84% vs 68%), which matters most in the rough months.

On-time
77%
arrived <15 min late
Avg delay
18 min
completed flights
Cancelled
1.1%
Flights/day
15
last 12 months
Duration
3h 56m
scheduled
Distance
1,440 mi

Best airline from ORD to PHX

4 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.

AirlineOn-timeAvg delayCancelledFlights
United Airlinesmost reliable82%12 min0.5%3,919
American Airlines77%20 min1.4%5,967
Southwest Airlines68%22 min1.1%923
Frontier Airlines64%33 min3.3%482

Monthly on-time trend

Monthly on-time percentage for ORD to PHX flights50%75%100%June 2024: 68% on-time (458 flights)68Jun 2024July 2024: 71% on-time (459 flights)71August 2024: 72% on-time (445 flights)72September 2024: 88% on-time (472 flights)88Sep 2024October 2024: 89% on-time (479 flights)89November 2024: 81% on-time (439 flights)81December 2024: 88% on-time (469 flights)88Dec 2024January 2025: 88% on-time (446 flights)88February 2025: 82% on-time (423 flights)82March 2025: 81% on-time (524 flights)81Mar 2025April 2025: 82% on-time (533 flights)82May 2025: 85% on-time (512 flights)85June 2025: 71% on-time (454 flights)71Jun 2025July 2025: 64% on-time (441 flights)64August 2025: 72% on-time (416 flights)72September 2025: 75% on-time (435 flights)75Sep 2025October 2025: 75% on-time (439 flights)75November 2025: 75% on-time (445 flights)75December 2025: 72% on-time (489 flights)72Dec 2025January 2026: 75% on-time (446 flights)75February 2026: 81% on-time (446 flights)81March 2026: 77% on-time (585 flights)77Mar 2026April 2026: 67% on-time (537 flights)67May 2026: 76% on-time (499 flights)76

Best time to fly from ORD to PHX

Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (92% on-time); avoid 10 p.m. departures (60%).

On-time percentage by scheduled departure hour, ORD to PHX5 a.m.: 89% on-time (436 flights)56 a.m.: 92% on-time (292 flights)67 a.m.: 85% on-time (1,222 flights)78 a.m.: 86% on-time (601 flights)89 a.m.: 84% on-time (903 flights)910 a.m.: 77% on-time (475 flights)1011 a.m.: 80% on-time (792 flights)1112 p.m.: 83% on-time (443 flights)121 p.m.: 83% on-time (1,048 flights)132 p.m.: 64% on-time (623 flights)143 p.m.: 72% on-time (634 flights)154 p.m.: 75% on-time (793 flights)165 p.m.: 67% on-time (572 flights)176 p.m.: 80% on-time (403 flights)187 p.m.: 71% on-time (641 flights)198 p.m.: 65% on-time (963 flights)209 p.m.: 68% on-time (244 flights)2110 p.m.: 60% on-time (203 flights)22scheduled departure hour

By day of week

DayOn-timeAvg delay
Monday75%21 min
Tuesdaybest82%17 min
Wednesday79%16 min
Thursday77%17 min
Friday74%21 min
Saturday80%14 min
Sunday75%18 min

What causes delays on this route

Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.

  • Late-arriving aircraft47%
  • Airline operations33%
  • National airspace system15%
  • Weather5%

Frequently asked questions

How often are flights from ORD to PHX delayed?
23% of ORD–PHX 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 18 minutes.
Which airline is most reliable from ORD to PHX?
United Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 82%, based on 3,919 flights. 4 airlines flew ORD–PHX frequently enough to compare in this period.
What is the best time of day to fly from ORD to PHX?
Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (92% on-time), while departures around 10 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 PHX?
The scheduled ORD–PHX flight time averages 3h 56m over 1,440 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 23% of the time.
How often are ORD to PHX flights cancelled?
1.1% 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 PHX?
July 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 64% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 89%. If your dates are flexible, that 25-point gap is worth planning around.

Based on 11,291 flights, 2024-062026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.