Richmond (RIC) to Chicago (ORD): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
The biggest risk when flying RIC to ORD isn't a late arrival — it's not departing at all. 3.2% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled, several times the typical US rate. When flights do go, 78% land on time, no worse than the national average of 78%. United Airlines has been the safer pick, arriving on time 88% of the time.
- On-time
- 78%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 20 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 3.2%
- Flights/day
- 6.1
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 25m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 642 mi
Best airline from RIC to ORD
4 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlinesmost reliable | 88% | 8 min | 1.9% | 693 |
| Republic Airways | 82% | 17 min | 3.4% | 1,081 |
| Envoy Air | 79% | 14 min | 2.2% | 579 |
| SkyWest Airlines | 64% | 39 min | 4.7% | 827 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from RIC to ORD
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (90% on-time); avoid 8 p.m. departures (38%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 76% | 23 min |
| Tuesday | 81% | 18 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 83% | 14 min |
| Thursday | 77% | 30 min |
| Friday | 73% | 21 min |
| Saturday | 79% | 15 min |
| Sunday | 78% | 19 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft23%
- Airline operations37%
- National airspace system29%
- Weather10%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from RIC to ORD delayed?
- 22% of RIC–ORD flights arrived 15 or more minutes late (the US DOT definition of a delay) between 2024-07 and 2026-07. The average arrival delay across completed flights was 20 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from RIC to ORD?
- United Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 88%, based on 693 flights. 4 airlines flew RIC–ORD frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from RIC to ORD?
- Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (90% on-time), while departures around 8 p.m. have the worst (38%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from RIC to ORD?
- The scheduled RIC–ORD flight time averages 2h 25m over 642 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 22% of the time.
- How often are RIC to ORD flights cancelled?
- 3.2% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-07 and 2026-07 — several times the typical US rate, so consider earlier departures or backup options.
- What is the worst month to fly from RIC to ORD?
- July 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 62% of arrivals on time. The best was September 2024 at 98%. If your dates are flexible, that 36-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 3,180 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.