66% of flights from Sioux Falls to Chicago arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is worse than the typical U.S. route. The 6 a.m. departures ran on time 83% of the time; the 6 p.m. ones 52%. Most reliable airline: United Airlines (67%). 19% 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 FSD → ORD: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 41% of the time. About 1 in 7 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 25 three hours or more; 3.7% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early66%
- 15–30 min late8.4%
- 30–60 min late7.5%
- 1–2 hours late7.0%
- 2–3 hours late3.3%
- 3+ hours late4.0%
- Diverted0.5%
- Cancelled3.7%
Share of all 2,614 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlines | 1,443 | 67% | 3.7% | 0 min | 12.8% | +105 min | GoJet 57%, United Airlines 24%, SkyWest 18%, Republic Airways 1% |
| American Airlines | 1,171 | 64% | 3.8% | −3 min | 16.1% | +97 min | SkyWest 60%, Envoy 34%, Republic Airways 3%, PSA Airlines 3% |
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 FSD). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
By airline and hour
| Departs | United Airlines | American Airlines |
|---|---|---|
| 6 a.m. | — | 83% |
| 7 a.m. | 77% | 71% |
| 8 a.m. | 81% | — |
| 11 a.m. | 70% | — |
| noon | — | 64% |
| 3 p.m. | 60% | — |
| 6 p.m. | 53% | — |
| 7 p.m. | — | 58% |
Last flight of the day
On FSD → ORD, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 6.6% of the time, against 2.6% for its earlier flights (2.5× as often). It arrived 3+ hours late 3.4% of the time (earlier flights: 4.3%). 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 | 4:44 p.m. | 6.9% | 3.9% | 2.5% | first flight 7:02 a.m. |
| United Airlines | 6:28 p.m. | 6.3% | 3.0% | 2.8% | first flight 7:40 a.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: February (82%). Worst: December (64%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 396 | 61% | 5.8% |
| Tuesday | 362 | 69% | 1.4% |
| Wednesday | 356 | 71% | 1.7% |
| Thursday | 378 | 65% | 2.9% |
| Friday | 381 | 62% | 4.5% |
| Saturday | 353 | 70% | 4.3% |
| Sunday | 388 | 62% | 5.4% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: weather 72 · air traffic/airport 23 · airline 3
Month by month
Flight numbers on this route
Regular flights with at least 120 scheduled trips in the past year. Sorted by departure time.
| Flight | Departs | Flights | On time | Cancelled | Typical arrival | Operated by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UA 1857 | 7:40 a.m. | 236 | 78% | 3.0% | −6 min | United Airlines |
| UA 4467 | 6:28 p.m. | 138 | 57% | 9.4% | +2 min | GoJet |
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 3, 2026 | 9 | 0% | 2 |
| Apr 2, 2026 | 9 | 0% | 4 |
| Mar 15, 2026 | 8 | 0% | 8 |
| Mar 13, 2026 | 8 | 0% | 0 |
| Nov 10, 2025 | 8 | 0% | 3 |
Questions
How often are flights from FSD to ORD on time?
66% of 2,614 scheduled flights from Sioux Falls, SD to Chicago, IL arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 3.8% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly FSD to ORD?
Flights scheduled to leave at 6 a.m. were the most reliable (83% on time). The 6 p.m. departures were the least (52%).
Which airline is most on time from FSD to ORD?
United Airlines: 67% of its 1,443 flights on the route arrived on time. American Airlines: 64%.
What month has the most delays from FSD to ORD?
December (64% on time). The best month is February (82%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from FSD to ORD more likely to be cancelled?
Yes. Each airline's last FSD–ORD flight of the day was cancelled 6.6% of the time over the past year, against 2.6% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- ORD → FSD (return)
- Sioux Falls (FSD) delays by hour
- Flights into Chicago O'Hare (ORD)
- United Airlines on-time record
- American 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.