68% of flights from Cincinnati to Chicago arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is worse than the typical U.S. route. The 5 a.m. departures ran on time 94% of the time; the 5 p.m. ones 41%. Most reliable airline: United Airlines (69%). 15% of flights arrived more than an hour late or not at all.
How late?
The on-time rate treats a flight 20 minutes late the same as one 5 hours late. Here's the split for CVG → ORD: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 51% of the time. About 1 in 9 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 30 three hours or more; 3.6% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early68%
- 15–30 min late10%
- 30–60 min late6.5%
- 1–2 hours late5.6%
- 2–3 hours late2.4%
- 3+ hours late3.3%
- Diverted0.1%
- Cancelled3.6%
Share of all 4,874 scheduled flights, past 12 months, by arrival time against schedule.
By airline
| Airline | Flights | On time | Cancelled | Typical arrival | 1h+ late | Avg when late | Operated by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlines | 2,449 | 69% | 3.6% | +1 min | 10.1% | +87 min | United Airlines 41%, Republic Airways 33%, SkyWest 18%, GoJet 8% |
| American Airlines | 2,425 | 67% | 3.7% | −4 min | 12.7% | +90 min | Envoy 56%, SkyWest 23%, Republic Airways 18%, American Airlines 2%, PSA Airlines 2% |
Airline = the name on the ticket. Regional flights (e.g. "Delta Connection") count under the ticketing airline, and the operator is listed.
Best time of day to fly
On-time rate by scheduled departure hour (local time at CVG). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
By airline and hour
| Departs | United Airlines | American Airlines |
|---|---|---|
| 6 a.m. | — | 80% |
| 7 a.m. | 72% | 62% |
| 8 a.m. | 65% | 71% |
| 9 a.m. | 80% | 79% |
| 10 a.m. | — | 82% |
| 11 a.m. | 82% | — |
| noon | — | 70% |
| 1 p.m. | — | 72% |
| 2 p.m. | 76% | — |
| 3 p.m. | — | 55% |
| 4 p.m. | 66% | 66% |
| 5 p.m. | 35% | — |
| 6 p.m. | 55% | 31% |
| 7 p.m. | 59% | 55% |
Last flight of the day
On CVG → ORD, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 6.7% of the time, against 3.1% for its earlier flights (2.2× as often). It arrived 3+ hours late 5.5% of the time (earlier flights: 3.0%). It matters more than the numbers suggest. Miss an earlier flight and there's another one that evening; miss the last one and you're usually waiting until morning.
| Airline | Last departure | Last: cancelled | Last: 3h+ late | Earlier: cancelled | Next morning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | 8:27 p.m. | 7.4% | 5.8% | 3.0% | first flight 6:00 a.m. |
| United Airlines | 7:54 p.m. | 6.0% | 5.2% | 3.2% | first flight 6:00 a.m. |
Last flight = the airline's last scheduled departure on this route that day, on days it flies the route at least twice; past 12 months. Times are typical scheduled times over the latest three months.
If you need to be in ORD tonight, book an earlier flight so there's a backup if it's cancelled.
By month
Each calendar month pooled over 2023–2026. Best: May (77%). Worst: March (68%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 733 | 65% | 6.3% |
| Tuesday | 683 | 74% | 3.1% |
| Wednesday | 682 | 71% | 1.9% |
| Thursday | 705 | 71% | 3.5% |
| Friday | 720 | 67% | 2.4% |
| Saturday | 629 | 69% | 3.5% |
| Sunday | 722 | 62% | 4.6% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: weather 122 · air traffic/airport 48 · airline 7
Month by month
Flight numbers on this route
Regular flights with at least 120 scheduled trips in the past year. Sorted by departure time.
| Flight | Departs | Flights | On time | Cancelled | Typical arrival | Operated by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AA 4094 | 6:00 a.m. | 350 | 80% | 1.4% | −11 min | Envoy |
| AA 3894 | 9:58 a.m. | 359 | 72% | 0.8% | −4 min | Envoy |
| UA 3485 | 11:17 a.m. | 294 | 83% | 0.7% | −7 min | Republic Airways |
| UA 1813 | 6:12 p.m. | 236 | 46% | 2.5% | +17 min | United Airlines |
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 7, 2025 | 14 | 0% | 3 |
| Apr 2, 2026 | 14 | 0% | 6 |
| Nov 29, 2025 | 13 | 0% | 9 |
| Jan 25, 2026 | 10 | 0% | 7 |
| Nov 30, 2025 | 16 | 6% | 5 |
Nearby airport alternatives
Other ways to make the same trip, using airports within 60 miles of Cincinnati or Chicago. CVG → MDW has been 11 points more reliable.
| Route | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVG → ORD (this route) | 4,874 | 68% | 3.6% |
| CVG → MDW Cincinnati Northern Kentucky to Chicago Midway | 560 | 79% | 1.1% |
Questions
How often are flights from CVG to ORD on time?
68% of 4,874 scheduled flights from Cincinnati, OH to Chicago, IL arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 3.6% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly CVG to ORD?
Flights scheduled to leave at 5 a.m. were the most reliable (94% on time). The 5 p.m. departures were the least (41%).
Which airline is most on time from CVG to ORD?
United Airlines: 69% of its 2,449 flights on the route arrived on time. American Airlines: 67%.
What month has the most delays from CVG to ORD?
March (68% on time). The best month is May (77%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from CVG to ORD more likely to be cancelled?
Yes. Each airline's last CVG–ORD flight of the day was cancelled 6.7% of the time over the past year, against 3.1% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- ORD → CVG (return)
- Cincinnati Northern Kentucky (CVG) delays by hour
- Flights into Chicago O'Hare (ORD)
- United Airlines on-time record
- American Airlines on-time record
- Connecting off this flight? Check the risk
Domestic flights by the airlines that report to the U.S. DOT, plus their regional partners. "On time" means arriving less than 15 minutes after schedule; cancelled and diverted flights count as not on time. Past performance is a guide, not a forecast. Method.