PlainFlights

Route · CHA → ORD · 2020–2025 BTS data

Chattanooga to Chicago

According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking (BTS On-Time Performance total flights), CHA to ORD (Chattanooga to Chicago) ranks #3285 of 4927 tracked domestic routes by total flights (most flights = #1).

Data updated 2026-06-13

77.8%
On-time
-1.2 pts
vs US avg
95 min
Delay when late
3,031
Flights
#3285 of 4927
Corpus placement

Cancelled

1.7%

Best Month

Dec 2023 91%

Worst Month

Jan 2025 62%

Distance

501 mi

Carriers

6

Monthly Performance

Recent 24 months of route data.

Period Flights Delayed Cancelled Diverted Carriers
Dec 2025 62 22 2 0 YX,MQ,OO
Nov 2025 118 26 8 0 OO,YX
Oct 2025 132 39 0 0 OO,YX
Sep 2025 58 16 0 1 OO
Apr 2025 60 17 2 0 OO
Feb 2025 37 14 0 0 OO
Jan 2025 85 32 4 0 OO
Dec 2024 88 23 0 0 OO,YX
Nov 2024 89 20 0 0 YX,OO
Oct 2024 93 15 0 0 OO,YX
Sep 2024 90 15 0 0 OO
Aug 2024 92 28 1 0 OO
Jul 2024 92 25 2 0 OO
Jun 2024 90 18 2 0 OO
May 2024 90 31 1 0 OO
Apr 2024 86 22 2 1 OO
Mar 2024 84 10 0 0 OO
Feb 2024 79 13 1 0 OO
Jan 2024 85 31 8 1 OO
Dec 2023 87 8 0 0 OO,YX
Nov 2023 89 15 0 0 YX,OO
Oct 2023 93 12 0 0 OO
Sep 2023 88 13 1 0 OO
Aug 2023 85 11 1 0 OO

CHA–ORD seasonal on-time pattern

Best: March (85.4%) · weakest: January (68.9%)

65%70%75%80%85%90% JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec 77.8%

Strongest calendar month

March

85.4% on-time · ~62 flights/mo

Busiest calendar month

October

~87 flights/mo avg

Weakest calendar month

January

68.9% on-time · ~74 flights/mo

Cancellation Rate

1.7%

35 of 2,052 flights

Diversion Rate

0.1%

3 of 2,052 flights

Origin-hub reliability standing

Mid-pack among CHA departures

From CHA, this corridor sits with 3 other 75–85% on-time routes out of 4 tracked departures, not the hub's reliability leaders (1 at ≥85%) and not the softest ( 0 below 75%). Destination: Chicago · fleet on-time rank #3884 of 4927.

What the Data Says About CHA to ORD

The Chattanooga to Chicago corridor (CHA to ORD) posts a 77.8% on-time rate on the lower edge of the average band, based on 3,031 tracked flights. Late flights run 94.9 minutes behind on average. 6 carriers cover the 501-mile route; over the last 24 months, 35 of 2,052 flights were cancelled (1.7%) and 0.1% diverted.

The monthly split is wide on this route: Dec 2023 posted the strongest performance at 91% on-time, while Jan 2025 came in at just 62% - a 29-point swing worth factoring into travel timing.

On the multi-year calendar, CHA–ORD peaks in March at 85.4% on-time while October carries the heaviest traffic (~87 flights per month) ; the softest month is January at 68.9%, a 16.5-point swing that repeats because the corridor's weather and holiday mix stays stable year to year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does CHA to ORD rank among US routes by traffic?
According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking, CHA to ORD ranks #3285 of 4927 tracked domestic routes by total flights (most flights = #1). That ordinal matches our busiest-routes listing (total_flights DESC). See /methodology#corpus-placement for the exact sort basis.
How often are flights delayed from CHA to ORD?
Flights from Chattanooga to Chicago have a 77.8% on-time rate based on 3,031 flights. The average delay is 94.9 minutes. The best recent month was Dec 2023 with 91% on-time.
What is the cancellation rate for CHA to ORD?
Over the last 24 months, 1.7% of flights on this route were cancelled (35 of 2,052 flights) and 0.1% were diverted.
How far is the flight from CHA to ORD?
The flight distance from Chattanooga (CHA) to Chicago (ORD) is approximately 501 miles. This route is served by 6 carriers.
When is the best time to fly from CHA to ORD?
The best recent month for on-time performance was Dec 2023 (91% on-time). The worst was Jan 2025 (62% on-time). Consider booking during months with historically better performance.

Airports on this route

Data source

Data Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), On-Time Performance Data. Statistics reflect cumulative performance across all available reporting periods.

Using CHA–ORD data

CHA–ORD is mid-pack at 77.8% on-time; month and carrier mix move more than the corridor headline.

  • Compare CHA and ORD airport profiles: delay causes and top routes differ even on the same corridor. CHA airport
  • If your dates flex, March (85.4% on-time) beats January (68.9%) on this corridor. Seasonal chart
  • 4 other routes post a similar 77.8% on-time rate; compare before you commit to this pairing. Similar routes

On-time rate reflects the BTS historical average across all reporting carriers on this origin–destination pair, not any single flight or booking recommendation.

Data sourced from U.S. Department of Transportation Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) On-Time Performance data. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainFlights

Every figure on PlainFlights is rendered directly from BTS On-Time Performance data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page aggregates this specific route's on-time performance and monthly trend, live from the dataset. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.