Best Time to Fly ORD to BUF: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Chicago O'Hare International → Buffalo Niagara International
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
2,198 flights were scheduled from Chicago (ORD) to Buffalo (BUF) in the last 12 months, and 71.0% of those that flew arrived on time, 6.6 points below the US average of 77.6%.
Among 5 airlines, Envoy Air led with 79.9% on time and American Airlines was last with 59.9%.
Over 24 months, Tuesday was the most reliable day (78% on time) and July the worst month (64%).
The cancellation rate was 3.1% (US average 1.8%).
ORD to BUF 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Envoy Air | 79.9% | 60 min | 2.9% | 375 |
| Republic Airways | 75.8% | 75 min | 4.8% | 376 |
| United Airlines | 75.0% | 81 min | 1.2% | 592 |
| SkyWest Airlines | 65.3% | 77 min | 5.5% | 379 |
| American Airlines | 59.9% | 84 min | 2.3% | 476 |
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly ORD to BUF
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 4,214 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12am–1am | Limited data | 1 | |
| 6am–7am | 94.4% | 0.0% | 73 |
| 7am–8am | 87.6% | 0.9% | 448 |
| 8am–9am | 85.2% | 1.5% | 337 |
| 9am–10am | 83.1% | 0.5% | 198 |
| 10am–11am | 67.0% | 4.0% | 99 |
| 11am–12pm | 83.5% | 2.9% | 137 |
| 12pm–1pm | Limited data | 1 | |
| 1pm–2pm | 73.7% | 2.9% | 419 |
| 2pm–3pm | 78.7% | 1.8% | 817 |
| 3pm–4pm | 77.2% | 2.1% | 94 |
| 4pm–5pm | 73.8% | 2.3% | 43 |
| 5pm–6pm | 64.1% | 1.4% | 145 |
| 6pm–7pm | 66.6% | 1.3% | 788 |
| 7pm–8pm | 58.3% | 0.8% | 268 |
| 8pm–9pm | 59.2% | 5.4% | 203 |
| 9pm–10pm | 41.0% | 7.9% | 114 |
| 10pm–11pm | Limited data | 27 | |
| 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 BUF
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) | 64.8% | -11.2 pts | 9.0% | 78 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 70.7% | -5.3 pts | 3.9% | 129 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 66.1% | -9.9 pts | 2.1% | 808 |
| All other days | 76.0% | — | 1.7% | 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).