Best Time to Fly BUF to ORD: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Buffalo Niagara International → Chicago O'Hare International
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
2,199 flights were scheduled from Buffalo (BUF) to Chicago (ORD) in the last 12 months, and 74.7% of those that flew arrived on time, 2.9 points below the US average of 77.6%.
Among 5 airlines, American Airlines led with 84.3% on time and SkyWest Airlines was last with 61.6%.
Over 24 months, Tuesday was the most reliable day (78% on time) and December the worst month (66%).
The cancellation rate was 3.2% (US average 1.8%).
BUF to ORD on-time performance by airline
Last 12 months. Airlines with fewer than 30 completed flights are marked “limited data”.
| Airline | On time | Avg delay when late | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | 84.3% | 117 min | 2.3% | 476 |
| Republic Airways | 77.6% | 95 min | 3.5% | 376 |
| United Airlines | 75.4% | 91 min | 1.4% | 593 |
| Envoy Air | 71.0% | 69 min | 3.5% | 376 |
| SkyWest Airlines | 61.6% | 127 min | 6.6% | 378 |
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly BUF to ORD
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 4,216 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5am–6am | 94.2% | 4.6% | 109 |
| 6am–7am | 84.5% | 3.3% | 333 |
| 7am–8am | 85.0% | 1.3% | 911 |
| 8am–9am | 80.4% | 1.8% | 229 |
| 10am–11am | 90.3% | 1.0% | 501 |
| 11am–12pm | 85.1% | 1.1% | 380 |
| 12pm–1pm | 79.0% | 2.2% | 136 |
| 1pm–2pm | 62.9% | 4.5% | 111 |
| 2pm–3pm | 74.5% | 5.2% | 58 |
| 3pm–4pm | 80.3% | 0.8% | 133 |
| 4pm–5pm | 64.7% | 5.9% | 202 |
| 5pm–6pm | 54.6% | 2.4% | 743 |
| 6pm–7pm | 62.2% | 2.5% | 365 |
| 9pm–10pm | Limited data | 3 | |
| 10pm–11pm | Limited data | 2 | |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on BUF to ORD
On-time arrivals during holiday periods compared with all other days, last 24 months.
| Period | On time | vs other days | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving week (Tue before to Mon after) | 56.2% | -21.0 pts | 6.4% | 78 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 69.3% | -7.8 pts | 3.9% | 129 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 75.6% | -1.5 pts | 2.6% | 810 |
| All other days | 77.1% | — | 1.9% | 3,199 |
Monthly on-time trend
On-time arrival % each month, with the 12-month US average for reference.
What causes delays on this route
Share of reported delay minutes, last 12 months (BTS cause categories).