79% of flights from Chicago to Wilmington arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is about the typical U.S. route. The 8 a.m. departures ran on time 91% of the time; the 11 a.m. ones 78%. Most reliable airline: United Airlines (80%). 8% 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 ORD → ILM: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 50% of the time. About 1 in 17 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 59 three hours or more; 2.0% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early79%
- 15–30 min late5.2%
- 30–60 min late7.3%
- 1–2 hours late3.0%
- 2–3 hours late1.0%
- 3+ hours late1.7%
- Diverted0.3%
- Cancelled2.0%
Share of all 591 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | 488 | 79% | 2.3% | −11 min | 5.3% | +65 min | Envoy 77%, Republic Airways 15%, SkyWest 8% |
| United Airlines | 103 | 80% | 1.0% | −11 min | 7.8% | +89 min | SkyWest |
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 ORD). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
By airline and hour
| Departs | American Airlines |
|---|---|
| 8 a.m. | 91% |
| 11 a.m. | 76% |
Last flight of the day
On ORD → ILM, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 5.4% of the time, against 0.0% for its earlier flights, about the same. It arrived 3+ hours late 2.7% of the time (earlier flights: 1.4%). 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 | 11:40 a.m. | 5.4% | 2.7% | 0.0% | first flight 8:13 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.
By month
Each calendar month pooled over 2023–2026. Best: June (78%). Worst: August (74%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 87 | — | — |
| Tuesday | 75 | — | — |
| Wednesday | 83 | — | — |
| Thursday | 86 | — | — |
| Friday | 86 | — | — |
| Saturday | 88 | — | — |
| Sunday | 86 | — | — |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: air traffic/airport 7 · weather 5
Month by month
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 12, 2026 | 4 | 0% | 0 |
| Aug 31, 2026 | 4 | 0% | 1 |
| May 24, 2026 | 3 | 0% | 0 |
| Jun 7, 2026 | 3 | 0% | 0 |
| Mar 7, 2026 | 3 | 0% | 0 |
Questions
How often are flights from ORD to ILM on time?
79% of 591 scheduled flights from Chicago, IL to Wilmington, NC arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 2.0% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly ORD to ILM?
Flights scheduled to leave at 8 a.m. were the most reliable (91% on time). The 11 a.m. departures were the least (78%).
Which airline is most on time from ORD to ILM?
United Airlines: 80% of its 103 flights on the route arrived on time. American Airlines: 79%.
What month has the most delays from ORD to ILM?
August (74% on time). The best month is June (78%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from ORD to ILM more likely to be cancelled?
Yes. Each airline's last ORD–ILM flight of the day was cancelled 5.4% of the time over the past year, against 0.0% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- ILM → ORD (return)
- Chicago O'Hare (ORD) delays by hour
- Flights into Wilmington (ILM)
- American Airlines on-time record
- United 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.