Louisville (SDF) to Chicago (ORD): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Louisville (SDF) to Chicago (ORD) effectively runs on two schedules. In September 2025, 90% of arrivals were on time; in February 2025 that fell to 69% — a 20-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 80% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (86% vs 65%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 80%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 16 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 2.1%
- Flights/day
- 7.7
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 40m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 286 mi
Best airline from SDF to ORD
3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republic Airwaysmost reliable | 84% | 11 min | 1.9% | 3,273 |
| Envoy Air | 79% | 16 min | 1.3% | 877 |
| SkyWest Airlines | 69% | 30 min | 3.4% | 1,077 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from SDF to ORD
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (94% on-time); avoid 6 p.m. departures (62%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 82% | 13 min |
| Tuesday | 82% | 13 min |
| Wednesday | 82% | 16 min |
| Thursdaybest | 84% | 10 min |
| Friday | 74% | 19 min |
| Saturday | 78% | 19 min |
| Sunday | 77% | 20 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft38%
- Airline operations22%
- National airspace system34%
- Weather7%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from SDF to ORD delayed?
- 20% of SDF–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 16 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from SDF to ORD?
- Republic Airways has the best on-time record on this route at 84%, based on 3,273 flights. 3 airlines flew SDF–ORD frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from SDF to ORD?
- Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (94% on-time), while departures around 6 p.m. have the worst (62%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from SDF to ORD?
- The scheduled SDF–ORD flight time averages 1h 40m over 286 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 20% of the time.
- How often are SDF to ORD flights cancelled?
- 2.1% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-07 and 2026-07, slightly above the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from SDF to ORD?
- February 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 69% of arrivals on time. The best was September 2025 at 90%. If your dates are flexible, that 20-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 5,246 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.