PlainFlights

Route · MSO → ORD · 2020–2025 BTS data

Missoula to Chicago

According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking (BTS On-Time Performance total flights), MSO to ORD (Missoula to Chicago) ranks #4400 of 4927 tracked domestic routes by total flights (most flights = #1).

Data updated 2026-06-13

75.8%
On-time
-3.2 pts
vs US avg
79 min
Delay when late
1,132
Flights
#4400 of 4927
Corpus placement

Cancelled

0.4%

Best Month

Sep 2021 89%

Worst Month

Jul 2025 63%

Distance

1,332 mi

Carriers

7

Monthly Performance

Recent 24 months of route data.

Period Flights Delayed Cancelled Diverted Carriers
Oct 2025 35 8 0 0 OO,MQ
Sep 2025 73 16 1 1 MQ,UA,OO
Aug 2025 89 27 0 4 MQ,UA
Jul 2025 92 34 1 3 UA,MQ
Jun 2025 81 15 0 0 UA,MQ
Sep 2024 55 11 0 0 OO,MQ
Aug 2024 62 15 0 1 MQ,OO,UA
Jul 2024 62 20 0 1 MQ,UA
Jun 2024 56 14 0 1 MQ,UA
Aug 2023 62 15 0 0 MQ,UA
Jul 2023 62 17 0 1 MQ,UA
Jun 2023 59 10 1 0 MQ,UA
Aug 2022 31 5 1 0 OO
Jul 2022 31 4 0 0 OO
Sep 2021 57 6 0 0 UA,MQ,YX
Aug 2021 62 14 0 1 UA,MQ
Jul 2021 61 20 0 0 UA,MQ
Jun 2021 56 18 0 1 UA,MQ,YX
Aug 2020 46 5 0 0 MQ,OO,UA

Cancellation Rate

0.4%

4 of 1,132 flights

Diversion Rate

1.2%

14 of 1,132 flights

Origin-hub reliability standing

Mid-pack among MSO departures

From MSO, this corridor sits with 6 other 75–85% on-time routes out of 8 tracked departures, not the hub's reliability leaders (2 at ≥85%) and not the softest ( 0 below 75%). Destination: Chicago · fleet on-time rank #4347 of 4927.

What the Data Says About MSO to ORD

The Missoula to Chicago corridor (MSO to ORD) posts a 75.8% on-time rate on the lower edge of the average band, based on 1,132 tracked flights. Late flights run 79.3 minutes behind on average. 7 carriers cover the 1,332-mile route; over the last 24 months, 4 of 1,132 flights were cancelled (0.4%) and 1.2% diverted.

The monthly split is wide on this route: Sep 2021 posted the strongest performance at 89% on-time, while Jul 2025 came in at just 63% - a 26-point swing worth factoring into travel timing.

On the multi-year calendar, MSO–ORD peaks in September at 82.2% on-time while June carries the heaviest traffic (~63 flights per month) ; the softest month is July at 69.2%, a 13.0-point swing that repeats because the corridor's weather and holiday mix stays stable year to year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does MSO to ORD rank among US routes by traffic?
According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking, MSO to ORD ranks #4400 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 MSO to ORD?
Flights from Missoula to Chicago have a 75.8% on-time rate based on 1,132 flights. The average delay is 79.3 minutes. The best recent month was Sep 2021 with 89% on-time.
What is the cancellation rate for MSO to ORD?
Over the last 24 months, 0.4% of flights on this route were cancelled (4 of 1,132 flights) and 1.2% were diverted.
How far is the flight from MSO to ORD?
The flight distance from Missoula (MSO) to Chicago (ORD) is approximately 1,332 miles. This route is served by 7 carriers.
When is the best time to fly from MSO to ORD?
The best recent month for on-time performance was Sep 2021 (89% on-time). The worst was Jul 2025 (63% 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 MSO–ORD data

MSO–ORD is mid-pack at 75.8% on-time; month and carrier mix move more than the corridor headline.

  • Compare MSO and ORD airport profiles: delay causes and top routes differ even on the same corridor. MSO airport
  • If your dates flex, September (82.2% on-time) beats July (69.2%) on this corridor. Seasonal chart
  • 4 other routes post a similar 75.8% 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.