Route on-time record

ORD to DEN: most on-time flights and the best time to fly

Chicago (Chicago O'Hare International Airport) to Denver (Denver International Airport). 6,198 nonstop flights in Jun 2025 to May 2026, 74% arrived within 15 minutes and 1.2% were cancelled. The most reliable flight number was United 1217 at 7:00 AM.

Flying on a specific date? We’ll adjust for the month, the weekday and the forecast.

ORD → DEN

Chicago to Denver: 6,198 nonstop flights a year

On time (12 months)

74%

Cancelled

1.2%

avg delay 21 min

Best time to leave

Before 9 AM

86% on time vs 57% 6 to 9 PM

Most reliable airline

United

77% chance on time

Check ORD to DEN fares

Lowest nonstop fare seen in the next two months: $72 (Frontier 1483 on 2026-11-12). Fares open on our travel partner (Aviasales). Pick the flight number you chose here.

Most reliable nonstop flights

Ranked by the chance the flight operates and arrives within 15 minutes of schedule, from Jun 2025 to May 2026 records.

#1 · United 1217
7:00 AM → 8:55 AM2h 54m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as United 2118; its record covers all of them.
93%
chance on time
On time (history)
95%
Cancelled
1.1%
Avg arrival delay
2 min
- Arrived on time 95% of the time (87 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 86% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 57%).
- Departs outside ORD's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 44% of its 243 ground stops and delay programs started).
Moderate track record · 87 flights
Find United 1217 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#2 · United 2666
5:00 AM → 6:41 AM2h 41m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
93%
chance on time
On time (history)
94%
Cancelled
0.0%
Avg arrival delay
2 min
- Arrived on time 94% of the time (158 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 158 scheduled flights.
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 86% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 57%).
- Departs outside ORD's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 44% of its 243 ground stops and delay programs started).
Moderate track record · 158 flights
Find United 2666 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#3 · United 742
1:43 PM → 3:39 PM2h 56m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-20.
88%
chance on time
On time (history)
100%
Cancelled
0.0%
Avg arrival delay
1 min
- Arrived on time 100% of the time (21 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs outside ORD's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 44% of its 243 ground stops and delay programs started).
- Lands inside DEN's trouble window: 79% of its 174 ground stops and delay programs started between 2 PM and 8 PM.
- Short track record (21 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 21 flights
Find United 742 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#4 · United 1113
12:55 PM → 2:51 PM2h 56m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-20.
88%
chance on time
On time (history)
90%
Cancelled
0.0%
Avg arrival delay
11 min
- Arrived on time 90% of the time (77 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 77 scheduled flights.
- Departs outside ORD's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 44% of its 243 ground stops and delay programs started).
- Lands inside DEN's trouble window: 79% of its 174 ground stops and delay programs started between 2 PM and 8 PM.
Moderate track record · 77 flights
Find United 1113 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#5 · United 1803
10:49 AM → 12:45 PM2h 56m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
86%
chance on time
On time (history)
87%
Cancelled
0.3%
Avg arrival delay
9 min
- Arrived on time 87% of the time (364 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs outside ORD's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 44% of its 243 ground stops and delay programs started).
Strong track record · 364 flights
Find United 1803 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#6 · Envoy 3545 · sold as American Eagle
6:50 AM → 8:47 AM2h 57m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-06.
84%
chance on time
On time (history)
90%
Cancelled
0.0%
Avg arrival delay
4 min
- Arrived on time 90% of the time (30 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 30 scheduled flights.
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 86% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 57%).
- Departs outside ORD's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 44% of its 243 ground stops and delay programs started).
Limited track record · 30 flights
Find 6:50 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#7 · United 2806
6:00 AM → 7:41 AM2h 41m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
83%
chance on time
On time (history)
91%
Cancelled
0.0%
Avg arrival delay
4 min
- Arrived on time 91% of the time (11 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 86% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 57%).
- Departs outside ORD's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 44% of its 243 ground stops and delay programs started).
- Short track record (11 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 11 flights
Find United 2806 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#8 · United 2657
12:40 PM → 2:30 PM2h 50m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
83%
chance on time
On time (history)
78%
Cancelled
0.0%
Avg arrival delay
11 min
- Arrived on time 78% of the time (9 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs outside ORD's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 44% of its 243 ground stops and delay programs started).
- Lands inside DEN's trouble window: 79% of its 174 ground stops and delay programs started between 2 PM and 8 PM.
- 88% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.
Limited track record · 9 flights
Find United 2657 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#9 · United 2431
8:40 AM → 10:31 AM2h 51m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as United 250, 1049; its record covers all of them.
81%
chance on time
On time (history)
83%
Cancelled
0.7%
Avg arrival delay
19 min
- Arrived on time 83% of the time (145 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 86% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 57%).
- Departs outside ORD's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 44% of its 243 ground stops and delay programs started).
Moderate track record · 145 flights
Find United 2431 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#10 · Envoy 3541 · sold as American Eagle
9:46 AM → 11:43 AM2h 57m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-04.
78%
chance on time
On time (history)
100%
Cancelled
0.0%
Avg arrival delay
1 min
- Arrived on time 100% of the time (8 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs outside ORD's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 44% of its 243 ground stops and delay programs started).
- Short track record (8 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 8 flights
Find 9:46 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales

Airlines on this route

Season-adjusted chance of operating and arriving on time.

United Airlines77%
3,701 flights · 78% on time as flown · 0.9% cancel
Envoy Air (sold as American Eagle)75%
125 flights · 76% on time as flown · 0.6% cancel
Frontier Airlines72%
331 flights · 73% on time as flown · 1.6% cancel
Southwest Airlines72%
570 flights · 73% on time as flown · 1.4% cancel
American Airlines65%
1,471 flights · 66% on time as flown · 1.6% cancel

On time by departure time

All airlines, scheduled local departure, Jun 2025 to May 2026.

Before 9 AM86%
1,594 flights · avg delay 14 min
9 AM to noon78%
870 flights · avg delay 19 min
Noon to 3 PM80%
1,297 flights · avg delay 16 min
3 to 6 PM65%
837 flights · avg delay 28 min
6 to 9 PM57%
1,173 flights · avg delay 33 min
After 9 PM67%
427 flights · avg delay 21 min

Best day: Tuesday (79%). Worst: Friday (75%).

On time by month

All airlines, Jun 2023 to May 2026. Several years per month, so one stormy season doesn't define a month. Travel-month estimates use this seasonal pattern.

What delays this route

Late-arriving aircraft44%
Airline (crew, maintenance, boarding)29%
Air traffic control and airport volume23%
Severe weather4%

Share of delay minutes by the cause airlines report to the US DOT.

Historical odds, not a guarantee. Built from the US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics on-time reports (Jun 2025 to May 2026), FAA ground stop and delay program advisories, and 20 years of airport weather observations. Covers US airlines that report to the DOT; schedules are flights operated recently, so confirm times when you book. ATIS Alerts is not affiliated with any airline. Fares are what Aviasales travelers saw in recent searches (USD, one way, 1 adult), not live quotes; the partner site shows the current price. Fare links go to our travel partner and may earn us a commission at no cost to you. Affiliate disclosure

ORD to DEN questions

What time of day is best to fly ORD to DEN?: Before 9 AM: 86% of flights arrived on time, against 57% for departures 6 to 9 PM. Later flights inherit delays from earlier ones, so the first departures of the day usually run best.
Which airline is most on time from ORD to DEN?: United, with a season-adjusted 77% chance of operating and arriving on time over 3,701 flights. The adjustment compares each airline with what the route did in the months it flew, so a carrier that skipped a stormy month gets no free credit.
What is the worst month for delays on ORD to DEN?: July (65% on time); the best was November (83%), averaged over Jun 2023 to May 2026.
Is this a prediction for my flight?: No. These are historical odds from the US DOT on-time reports, FAA advisories and airport weather records. Check your flight status and the FAA delay board on the day you fly.

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