78% of flights from Wilmington to Chicago arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is about the typical U.S. route. The noon departures ran on time 85% of the time; the 3 p.m. ones 68%. Most reliable airline: American Airlines (80%). 12% 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 ILM → ORD: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 39% of the time. About 1 in 11 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 39 three hours or more; 1.7% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early78%
- 15–30 min late6.4%
- 30–60 min late3.9%
- 1–2 hours late3.7%
- 2–3 hours late2.9%
- 3+ hours late2.5%
- Diverted0.7%
- Cancelled1.7%
Share of all 590 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | 487 | 80% | 1.2% | −14 min | 7.6% | +95 min | Envoy 77%, Republic Airways 15%, SkyWest 8% |
| United Airlines | 103 | 70% | 3.9% | −8 min | 16.5% | +128 min | SkyWest |
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 ILM). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
By airline and hour
| Departs | American Airlines |
|---|---|
| noon | 85% |
| 3 p.m. | 65% |
Last flight of the day
On ILM → ORD, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 1.6% of the time, against 0.9% for its earlier flights (1.8× as often). It arrived 3+ hours late 2.7% of the time (earlier flights: 2.3%). 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 | 3:32 p.m. | 1.6% | 2.7% | 0.9% | first flight 12:09 p.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: June (69%). Worst: July (61%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 87 | — | — |
| Tuesday | 75 | — | — |
| Wednesday | 82 | — | — |
| Thursday | 86 | — | — |
| Friday | 86 | — | — |
| Saturday | 88 | — | — |
| Sunday | 86 | — | — |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: weather 6 · air traffic/airport 4
Month by month
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 24, 2026 | 3 | 0% | 0 |
| Jun 11, 2026 | 3 | 0% | 1 |
| Jul 3, 2026 | 3 | 0% | 0 |
| Jul 27, 2026 | 3 | 0% | 2 |
| Jun 17, 2026 | 3 | 0% | 0 |
Questions
How often are flights from ILM to ORD on time?
78% of 590 scheduled flights from Wilmington, NC to Chicago, IL arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 1.7% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly ILM to ORD?
Flights scheduled to leave at noon were the most reliable (85% on time). The 3 p.m. departures were the least (68%).
Which airline is most on time from ILM to ORD?
American Airlines: 80% of its 487 flights on the route arrived on time. United Airlines: 70%.
What month has the most delays from ILM to ORD?
July (61% on time). The best month is June (69%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from ILM to ORD more likely to be cancelled?
Yes. Each airline's last ILM–ORD flight of the day was cancelled 1.6% of the time over the past year, against 0.9% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- ORD → ILM (return)
- Wilmington (ILM) delays by hour
- Flights into Chicago O'Hare (ORD)
- American Airlines on-time record
- United 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.