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Route · ILM → ORD · 2020–2025 BTS data

Wilmington to Chicago

According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking (BTS On-Time Performance total flights), ILM to ORD (Wilmington to Chicago) ranks #4675 of 4927 tracked domestic routes by total flights (most flights = #1).

Data updated 2026-06-13

75%
On-time
-4 pts
vs US avg
79 min
Delay when late
779
Flights
#4675 of 4927
Corpus placement

Cancelled

1.8%

Best Month

Aug 2025 69%

Worst Month

Jul 2025 50%

Distance

760 mi

Carriers

8

Monthly Performance

Recent 24 months of route data.

Period Flights Delayed Cancelled Diverted Carriers
Oct 2025 31 2 0 0 MQ
Sep 2025 31 3 0 0 MQ
Aug 2025 70 22 4 0 AA,OO,YX,MQ
Jul 2025 105 52 3 1 AA,OO,YX,MQ
Jun 2025 96 37 3 0 AA,OO,YX,MQ
Aug 2024 62 21 0 0 MQ,YX,OO
Jul 2024 43 8 0 0 MQ,OO,YX
Jun 2024 37 3 1 0 MQ,OO,YX
Aug 2023 33 4 0 0 MQ,YX
Jul 2023 36 10 3 0 MQ,YX
Jun 2023 34 3 0 0 MQ,YX
Jul 2022 36 8 0 0 OO,YX
Jun 2022 32 6 0 0 OO,MQ
Sep 2021 31 3 0 0 YX
Aug 2021 34 5 0 0 MQ,YX
Jul 2021 36 2 0 0 MQ
Jun 2021 32 6 0 1 MQ

Cancellation Rate

1.8%

14 of 779 flights

Diversion Rate

0.3%

2 of 779 flights

Origin-hub reliability standing

Mid-pack among ILM departures

From ILM, this corridor sits with 5 other 75–85% on-time routes out of 8 tracked departures, not the hub's reliability leaders (2 at ≥85%) and not the softest ( 1 below 75%). Destination: Chicago · fleet on-time rank #4469 of 4927.

What the Data Says About ILM to ORD

The Wilmington to Chicago corridor (ILM to ORD) posts a 75% on-time rate on the lower edge of the average band, based on 779 tracked flights. Late flights run 79.2 minutes behind on average. 8 carriers cover the 760-mile route; over the last 24 months, 14 of 779 flights were cancelled (1.8%) and 0.3% diverted.

The monthly split is wide on this route: Aug 2025 posted the strongest performance at 69% on-time, while Jul 2025 came in at just 50% - a 18-point swing worth factoring into travel timing.

On the multi-year calendar, ILM–ORD peaks in October at 93.5% on-time while July carries the heaviest traffic (~51 flights per month) ; the softest month is July at 68.8%, a 24.7-point swing that repeats because the corridor's weather and holiday mix stays stable year to year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does ILM to ORD rank among US routes by traffic?
According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking, ILM to ORD ranks #4675 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 ILM to ORD?
Flights from Wilmington to Chicago have a 75% on-time rate based on 779 flights. The average delay is 79.2 minutes. The best recent month was Aug 2025 with 69% on-time.
What is the cancellation rate for ILM to ORD?
Over the last 24 months, 1.8% of flights on this route were cancelled (14 of 779 flights) and 0.3% were diverted.
How far is the flight from ILM to ORD?
The flight distance from Wilmington (ILM) to Chicago (ORD) is approximately 760 miles. This route is served by 8 carriers.
When is the best time to fly from ILM to ORD?
The best recent month for on-time performance was Aug 2025 (69% on-time). The worst was Jul 2025 (50% 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 ILM–ORD data

ILM–ORD is mid-pack at 75% on-time; month and carrier mix move more than the corridor headline.

  • Compare ILM and ORD airport profiles: delay causes and top routes differ even on the same corridor. ILM airport
  • If your dates flex, October (93.5% on-time) beats July (68.8%) on this corridor. Seasonal chart
  • 4 other routes post a similar 75% 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.