Richmond (RIC) to Chicago (ORD): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Richmond (RIC) to Chicago (ORD) effectively runs on two schedules. In September 2024, 98% of arrivals were on time; in July 2025 that fell to 62% — a 36-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 78% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (86% vs 63%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 78%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 19 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 2.9%
- Flights/day
- 6.0
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 24m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 642 mi
Best airline from RIC to ORD
4 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlinesmost reliable | 89% | 8 min | 1.5% | 662 |
| Republic Airways | 83% | 14 min | 3.6% | 871 |
| Envoy Air | 79% | 14 min | 2.2% | 579 |
| SkyWest Airlines | 64% | 40 min | 3.9% | 744 |
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 (31%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 76% | 23 min |
| Tuesday | 81% | 19 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 83% | 14 min |
| Thursday | 77% | 25 min |
| Friday | 72% | 22 min |
| Saturday | 81% | 13 min |
| Sunday | 79% | 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 aircraft22%
- Airline operations40%
- National airspace system27%
- Weather12%
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 2024-06 and 2026-05. The average arrival delay across completed flights was 19 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from RIC to ORD?
- United Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 89%, based on 662 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 (31%). 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 24m 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?
- 2.9% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05, slightly above the national rate of 1.6%.
- 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.
Explore related pages
More routes from RIC
Based on 2,856 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.