Chicago (ORD) to Salt Lake City (SLC): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Chicago (ORD) to Salt Lake City (SLC) effectively runs on two schedules. In October 2024, 91% of arrivals were on time; in December 2025 that fell to 56% — a 35-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 73% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (79% vs 64%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 73%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 22 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.8%
- Flights/day
- 8.7
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 3h 37m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 1,250 mi
Best airline from ORD to SLC
6 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Linesmost reliable | 75% | 26 min | 0.9% | 2,026 |
| Envoy Air | 75% | 13 min | 0.0% | 87 |
| United Airlines | 74% | 17 min | 0.6% | 2,066 |
| American Airlines | 70% | 22 min | 1.4% | 1,268 |
| SkyWest Airlines | 68% | 30 min | 0.1% | 714 |
| Frontier Airlines | 47% | 32 min | 3.9% | 77 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from ORD to SLC
Aim for departures around 8 a.m. (84% on-time); avoid 9 p.m. departures (50%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 72% | 25 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 78% | 18 min |
| Wednesday | 75% | 21 min |
| Thursday | 72% | 23 min |
| Friday | 69% | 21 min |
| Saturday | 76% | 20 min |
| Sunday | 68% | 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 aircraft36%
- Airline operations41%
- National airspace system14%
- Weather9%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from ORD to SLC delayed?
- 28% of ORD–SLC 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 22 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from ORD to SLC?
- Delta Air Lines has the best on-time record on this route at 75%, based on 2,026 flights. 6 airlines flew ORD–SLC frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from ORD to SLC?
- Departures around 8 a.m. have the best record (84% on-time), while departures around 9 p.m. have the worst (50%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from ORD to SLC?
- The scheduled ORD–SLC flight time averages 3h 37m over 1,250 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 28% of the time.
- How often are ORD to SLC flights cancelled?
- 0.8% 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 SLC?
- December 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 56% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 91%. If your dates are flexible, that 35-point gap is worth planning around.
Explore related pages
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Based on 6,238 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.