Best Time to Fly ORD to PHL: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Chicago O'Hare International → Philadelphia International
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
5,008 flights were scheduled from Chicago (ORD) to Philadelphia (PHL) in the last 12 months, and 71.9% of those that flew arrived on time, 5.8 points below the US average of 77.6%.
United Airlines was the most punctual of the 3 airlines on the route at 73.1%, while Frontier Airlines trailed at 60.3%.
October has been the best month (79% on time) and Friday the weakest day of the week (68%).
3.2% of flights were cancelled, versus 1.8% nationally.
ORD to PHL 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlines | 73.1% | 80 min | 1.7% | 1,813 |
| American Airlines | 71.8% | 93 min | 4.0% | 2,975 |
| Frontier Airlines | 60.3% | 131 min | 4.7% | 193 |
| Republic Airways | Limited data | 27 | ||
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly ORD to PHL
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 9,486 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12am–1am | Limited data | 1 | |
| 5am–6am | 89.5% | 3.1% | 353 |
| 6am–7am | 86.3% | 2.9% | 655 |
| 7am–8am | 89.3% | 0.5% | 652 |
| 8am–9am | 79.4% | 1.9% | 670 |
| 9am–10am | 79.5% | 1.6% | 559 |
| 10am–11am | 70.5% | 4.7% | 64 |
| 11am–12pm | 76.7% | 1.3% | 1,348 |
| 12pm–1pm | 75.3% | 1.0% | 99 |
| 1pm–2pm | 75.2% | 2.4% | 170 |
| 2pm–3pm | 63.5% | 1.4% | 1,339 |
| 3pm–4pm | 71.0% | 3.0% | 200 |
| 4pm–5pm | 60.3% | 3.0% | 472 |
| 5pm–6pm | 64.7% | 3.4% | 502 |
| 6pm–7pm | 64.3% | 2.3% | 1,012 |
| 7pm–8pm | 62.0% | 4.0% | 351 |
| 8pm–9pm | 60.8% | 6.8% | 427 |
| 9pm–10pm | 63.5% | 4.5% | 600 |
| 10pm–11pm | Limited data | 10 | |
| 11pm–12am | 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 ORD to PHL
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) | 66.2% | -8.5 pts | 5.3% | 170 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 71.2% | -3.6 pts | 1.6% | 310 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 62.4% | -12.4 pts | 4.8% | 1,801 |
| All other days | 74.7% | — | 1.8% | 7,205 |
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).