Route on-time record
SNA to ORD: most on-time flights and the best time to fly
Santa Ana (John Wayne Orange County International Airport) to Chicago (Chicago O'Hare International Airport). 2,237 nonstop flights in Jun 2025 to May 2026, 77% arrived within 15 minutes and 1.2% were cancelled. The most reliable flight number was American 2590 at 7:45 AM.
Flying on a specific date? We’ll adjust for the month, the weekday and the forecast.
SNA → ORD
Santa Ana to Chicago: 2,237 nonstop flights a year
On time (12 months)
77%
Cancelled
1.2%
avg delay 19 min
Best time to leave
Before 9 AM
88% on time vs 65% 3 to 6 PM
Most reliable airline
United
78% chance on time
Lowest nonstop fare seen in the next two months: $176 (American 2590 on 2026-11-01). 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 · American 2590
7:45 AM → 1:57 PM4h 12m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
86%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 88%
- Cancelled
- 1.4%
- Avg arrival delay
- 19 min
- Arrived on time 88% of the time (354 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 88% on time; 3 to 6 PM: 65%).
Strong track record · 354 flights
Find American 2590 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#2 · United 587
6:45 AM → 1:00 PM4h 15m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-30.
84%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 84%
- Cancelled
- 1.3%
- Avg arrival delay
- 5 min
- Arrived on time 84% of the time (73 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 88% on time; 3 to 6 PM: 65%).
Moderate track record · 73 flights
Find United 587 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#3 · United 2426
10:50 AM → 4:55 PM4h 05m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
79%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 79%
- Cancelled
- 1.1%
- Avg arrival delay
- 25 min
- Arrived on time 79% of the time (84 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Lands inside ORD's trouble window: 44% of its 243 ground stops and delay programs started between 2 PM and 8 PM.
Moderate track record · 84 flights
Find United 2426 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#4 · American 2679
11:33 AM → 5:53 PM4h 20m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
74%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 100%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 0 min
- Arrived on time 100% of the time (11 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Lands inside ORD's trouble window: 44% of its 243 ground stops and delay programs started between 2 PM and 8 PM.
- Short track record (11 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 11 flights
Find American 2679 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#5 · United 1352
2:40 PM → 8:25 PM4h 05m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
71%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 72%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 20 min
- Arrived on time 72% of the time (107 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 109 scheduled flights.
Moderate track record · 107 flights
Find United 1352 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#6 · American 2285
11:41 AM → 5:50 PM4h 09m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-06.
68%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 69%
- Cancelled
- 1.3%
- Avg arrival delay
- 31 min
- Arrived on time 69% of the time (299 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Lands inside ORD's trouble window: 44% of its 243 ground stops and delay programs started between 2 PM and 8 PM.
Strong track record · 299 flights
Find American 2285 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#7 · American 1502
1:36 PM → 7:59 PM4h 23m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-20.
67%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 70%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 17 min
- Arrived on time 70% of the time (43 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 44 scheduled flights.
- Lands inside ORD's trouble window: 44% of its 243 ground stops and delay programs started between 2 PM and 8 PM.
- 58% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.
Limited track record · 43 flights
Find American 1502 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#8 · American 2640
3:08 PM → 9:39 PM4h 31m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as American 2908; its record covers all of them.
66%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 71%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 18 min
- Arrived on time 71% of the time (55 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 55 scheduled flights.
- Leaves in this route's least on-time window (3 to 6 PM: 65% on time; Before 9 AM: 88%).
- Short track record (55 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 55 flights
Find American 2640 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#9 · American 2212
3:24 PM → 9:36 PM4h 12m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-06.
65%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 67%
- Cancelled
- 3.8%
- Avg arrival delay
- 23 min
- Arrived on time 67% of the time (223 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Cancelled 3.8% of the time (9 of 236).
- Leaves in this route's least on-time window (3 to 6 PM: 65% on time; Before 9 AM: 88%).
- 63% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.
Strong track record · 223 flights
Find American 2212 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
Airlines on this route
Season-adjusted chance of operating and arriving on time.
- United Airlines78%
1,039 flights · 79% on time as flown · 0.7% cancel
- American Airlines73%
1,198 flights · 74% on time as flown · 1.6% cancel
On time by departure time
All airlines, scheduled local departure, Jun 2025 to May 2026.
- Before 9 AM88%
674 flights · avg delay 13 min
- 9 AM to noon77%
800 flights · avg delay 20 min
- Noon to 3 PM66%
486 flights · avg delay 20 min
- 3 to 6 PM65%
277 flights · avg delay 27 min
Best day: Tuesday (86%). Worst: Sunday (74%).
Smarter routing
Nearby airports that run more on time
ONT → MDW 90% chance on time
Ontario International Airport to Chicago Midway International Airport · 360 flights a year · 45 mi from your airports · yours: 76%
BUR → MDW 87% chance on time
Hollywood Burbank/Bob Hope Airport to Chicago Midway International Airport · 322 flights a year · 61 mi from your airports · yours: 76%
LAX → MDW 80% chance on time
Los Angeles International Airport to Chicago Midway International Airport · 1,355 flights a year · 51 mi from your airports · yours: 76%
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 aircraft36%
- Air traffic control and airport volume32%
- Airline (crew, maintenance, boarding)26%
- Severe weather5%
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
SNA to ORD questions
- What time of day is best to fly SNA to ORD?
- Before 9 AM: 88% of flights arrived on time, against 65% for departures 3 to 6 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 SNA to ORD?
- United, with a season-adjusted 78% chance of operating and arriving on time over 1,039 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 SNA to ORD?
- July (76% on time); the best was December (86%), 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.
More routes from SNA
- ORD to SNA (return)
- SNA to SFO 74%
- SNA to PHX 82%
- SNA to LAS 83%
- SNA to SEA 85%
- SNA to DEN 82%
- SNA to DFW 79%
- SNA to SJC 87%
- SNA to OAK 85%
- SNA to SMF 85%
- SNA to SLC 87%
- SNA to PDX 93%
- SNA to IAH 88%
Live status: FAA delays and ground stops