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Route · FAT → ORD · 2020–2025 BTS data

Fresno to Chicago

According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking (BTS On-Time Performance total flights), FAT to ORD (Fresno to Chicago) ranks #4747 of 4927 tracked domestic routes by total flights (most flights = #1).

Data updated 2026-06-13

76.4%
On-time
-2.6 pts
vs US avg
74 min
Delay when late
670
Flights
#4747 of 4927
Corpus placement

Cancelled

3.9%

Best Month

Aug 2021 90%

Worst Month

Jun 2021 86%

Distance

1,730 mi

Carriers

3

Monthly Performance

Recent 24 months of route data.

Period Flights Delayed Cancelled Diverted Carriers
Sep 2025 30 11 0 0 UA
Aug 2025 31 10 3 0 UA
Jul 2025 30 8 2 1 UA
Jun 2025 30 5 1 0 UA
May 2025 31 17 0 0 UA
Jul 2024 30 14 4 0 UA
Jun 2024 30 9 0 0 UA
May 2024 31 7 1 1 UA
Aug 2023 31 6 0 1 UA
Aug 2022 31 13 0 0 OO,UA
Jul 2022 31 9 0 3 UA
Oct 2021 36 16 0 3 OO,AA
Sep 2021 57 7 0 0 OO,AA
Aug 2021 59 6 3 4 OO,AA
Jul 2021 61 7 2 3 OO,AA
Jun 2021 58 8 0 4 OO,AA
Mar 2020 31 0 9 0 UA
Jan 2020 32 5 1 1 UA

FAT–ORD seasonal on-time pattern

Best: March (100.0%) · weakest: October (55.6%)

50%60%70%80%90%100%110% JanMarMayJunJulAugSepOct 55.6%

Strongest calendar month

March

100.0% on-time · ~31 flights/mo

Busiest calendar month

September

~44 flights/mo avg

Weakest calendar month

October

55.6% on-time · ~36 flights/mo

Cancellation Rate

3.9%

26 of 670 flights

Diversion Rate

3.1%

21 of 670 flights

Explore origin & destination

On-time and delay data for the airports this route connects.

FAT - Fresno

Full on-time, delay-cause, and seasonal performance for Fresno, CA.

FAT on-time profile

ORD - Chicago

Full on-time, delay-cause, and seasonal performance for Chicago, IL.

ORD on-time profile

Compare the two airports

See FAT and ORD side by side on delays, cancellations, and reliability.

Compare FAT vs ORD

Origin-hub reliability standing

Mid-pack among FAT departures

From FAT, this corridor sits with 6 other 75–85% on-time routes out of 11 tracked departures, not the hub's reliability leaders (5 at ≥85%) and not the softest ( 0 below 75%). Destination: Chicago · fleet on-time rank #4226 of 4927.

What the Data Says About FAT to ORD

The Fresno to Chicago corridor (FAT to ORD) posts a 76.4% on-time rate on the lower edge of the average band, based on 670 tracked flights. Late flights run 73.7 minutes behind on average. 3 carriers cover the 1,730-mile route; over the last 24 months, 26 of 670 flights were cancelled (3.9%) and 3.1% diverted.

Monthly on-time rates stay fairly consistent on this route, ranging from 86% in Jun 2021 to 90% in Aug 2021 - only a 4-point spread.

On the multi-year calendar, FAT–ORD peaks in March at 100.0% on-time while September carries the heaviest traffic (~44 flights per month) ; the softest month is October at 55.6%, a 44.4-point swing that repeats because the corridor's weather and holiday mix stays stable year to year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does FAT to ORD rank among US routes by traffic? ▼
According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking, FAT to ORD ranks #4747 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 FAT to ORD? ▼
Flights from Fresno to Chicago have a 76.4% on-time rate based on 670 flights. The average delay is 73.7 minutes. The best recent month was Aug 2021 with 90% on-time.
What is the cancellation rate for FAT to ORD? ▼
Over the last 24 months, 3.9% of flights on this route were cancelled (26 of 670 flights) and 3.1% were diverted.
How far is the flight from FAT to ORD? ▼
The flight distance from Fresno (FAT) to Chicago (ORD) is approximately 1,730 miles. This route is served by 3 carriers.
When is the best time to fly from FAT to ORD? ▼
The best recent month for on-time performance was Aug 2021 (90% on-time). The worst was Jun 2021 (86% on-time). Consider booking during months with historically better performance.

Airports on this route

FAT Airport

Fresno
ORD Airport

Chicago
Data source

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

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Using FAT–ORD data

FAT–ORD is mid-pack at 76.4% on-time; month and carrier mix move more than the corridor headline.

  • Compare FAT and ORD airport profiles: delay causes and top routes differ even on the same corridor. FAT airport
  • If your dates flex, March (100.0% on-time) beats October (55.6%) on this corridor. Seasonal chart
  • 4 other routes post a similar 76.4% 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.