Best Time to Fly SNA to ORD: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
John Wayne Airport-Orange County → Chicago O'Hare International
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
2,189 flights were scheduled from Santa Ana (SNA) to Chicago (ORD) in the last 12 months, and 76.6% of those that flew arrived on time, 1.0 points below the US average of 77.6%.
United Airlines was the most punctual of the 2 airlines on the route at 78.5%, while American Airlines trailed at 74.8%.
December has been the best month (84% on time) and Sunday the weakest day of the week (69%).
1.2% of flights were cancelled, versus 1.8% nationally.
SNA 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlines | 78.5% | 64 min | 0.6% | 1,041 |
| American Airlines | 74.8% | 85 min | 1.8% | 1,148 |
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly SNA to ORD
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 4,341 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6am–7am | 88.9% | 0.5% | 422 |
| 7am–8am | 91.2% | 0.4% | 788 |
| 8am–9am | 77.0% | 2.1% | 140 |
| 9am–10am | Limited data | 18 | |
| 10am–11am | 82.7% | 0.3% | 692 |
| 11am–12pm | 77.1% | 0.9% | 806 |
| 1pm–2pm | 69.0% | 0.7% | 438 |
| 2pm–3pm | 71.8% | 0.3% | 632 |
| 3pm–4pm | 65.5% | 2.6% | 387 |
| 4pm–5pm | Limited data | 9 | |
| 5pm–6pm | Limited data | 9 | |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on SNA 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) | 74.7% | -5.8 pts | 5.3% | 75 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 81.2% | +0.7 pts | 0.0% | 171 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 73.2% | -7.2 pts | 0.9% | 777 |
| All other days | 80.5% | — | 0.6% | 3,318 |
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).