Chicago (ORD) to Fort Myers (RSW): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
The calendar drives reliability on ORD–RSW. October 2024 flights landed on schedule 92% of the time, but March 2026 dropped to 67% — a gap of 25 points. Across the full period the route averages 79% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (83% vs 65%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 79%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 16 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.5%
- Flights/day
- 8.9
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 3h 0m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 1,120 mi
Best airline from ORD to RSW
5 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlinesmost reliable | 84% | 12 min | 0.8% | 3,061 |
| Southwest Airlines | 78% | 12 min | 2.9% | 102 |
| Frontier Airlines | 75% | 24 min | 2.0% | 102 |
| American Airlines | 75% | 19 min | 1.7% | 1,818 |
| Spirit Airlines | 71% | 22 min | 3.5% | 769 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from ORD to RSW
Aim for departures around 7 a.m. (89% on-time); avoid 8 p.m. departures (53%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 79% | 18 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 85% | 10 min |
| Wednesday | 81% | 14 min |
| Thursday | 82% | 13 min |
| Friday | 76% | 16 min |
| Saturday | 77% | 16 min |
| Sunday | 74% | 21 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft41%
- Airline operations24%
- National airspace system29%
- Weather6%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from ORD to RSW delayed?
- 21% of ORD–RSW 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 16 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from ORD to RSW?
- United Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 84%, based on 3,061 flights. 5 airlines flew ORD–RSW frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from ORD to RSW?
- Departures around 7 a.m. have the best record (89% on-time), while departures around 8 p.m. have the worst (53%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from ORD to RSW?
- The scheduled ORD–RSW flight time averages 3h 0m over 1,120 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 21% of the time.
- How often are ORD to RSW flights cancelled?
- 1.5% 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 RSW?
- March 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 67% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 92%. If your dates are flexible, that 25-point gap is worth planning around.
Explore related pages
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Based on 5,853 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.