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Route · ORD → DBQ · 2020–2025 BTS data

Chicago to Dubuque

According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking (BTS On-Time Performance total flights), ORD to DBQ (Chicago to Dubuque) ranks #4227 of 4927 tracked domestic routes by total flights (most flights = #1).

Data updated 2026-06-13

85.8%
On-time
+6.8 pts
vs US avg
73 min
Delay when late
1,392
Flights
#4227 of 4927
Corpus placement

Cancelled

3.5%

Best Month

Nov 2021 98%

Worst Month

Oct 2021 78%

Distance

147 mi

Carriers

1

Monthly Performance

Recent 24 months of route data.

Period Flights Delayed Cancelled Diverted Carriers
Aug 2022 62 5 3 0 MQ
Jul 2022 62 11 0 0 MQ
Jun 2022 60 7 0 0 MQ
May 2022 62 6 0 1 MQ
Apr 2022 59 11 3 0 MQ
Mar 2022 47 7 1 0 MQ
Feb 2022 42 8 4 0 MQ
Jan 2022 46 9 2 0 MQ
Dec 2021 59 5 4 1 MQ
Nov 2021 81 2 0 0 MQ
Oct 2021 58 13 1 0 MQ
Sep 2021 59 7 0 0 MQ
Aug 2021 57 8 4 0 MQ
Jul 2021 31 14 0 0 MQ
Jun 2021 58 13 0 0 MQ
May 2021 33 3 0 0 MQ
Apr 2021 51 2 0 0 MQ
Mar 2021 31 4 0 0 MQ
Sep 2020 33 0 0 0 MQ
Aug 2020 49 3 0 0 MQ
Jul 2020 43 6 0 0 MQ
Apr 2020 46 1 9 0 MQ
Mar 2020 88 10 11 1 MQ
Feb 2020 82 17 4 1 MQ

ORD–DBQ seasonal on-time pattern

Best: November (97.5%) · weakest: January (75.5%)

70%75%80%85%90%95%100% JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec 91.5%

Strongest calendar month

November

97.5% on-time · ~81 flights/mo

Busiest calendar month

November

~81 flights/mo avg

Weakest calendar month

January

75.5% on-time · ~70 flights/mo

Cancellation Rate

3.5%

46 of 1,299 flights

Diversion Rate

0.3%

4 of 1,299 flights

Origin-hub reliability standing

Among ORD's stronger departures

ORD → DBQ posts a 85.8% on-time rate, landing in the ≥85% band with 10 of 168 BTS-tracked routes leaving Chicago. The same hub also shows 147 mid-band and 11 challenged departures · fleet-wide on-time rank #965 of 4927 (highest on-time = #1).

What the Data Says About ORD to DBQ

Chicago to Dubuque (ORD to DBQ) is one of the more dependable pairings in the BTS On-Time Performance dataset: a 85.8% on-time rate across 1,392 flights, with delays that do happen averaging 72.8 minutes. The corridor runs roughly 147 miles and is served by 1 carrier. Over the most recent 24 months, 46 of 1,299 flights were cancelled (3.5%) and 4 diverted (0.3%).

The monthly split is wide on this route: Nov 2021 posted the strongest performance at 98% on-time, while Oct 2021 came in at just 78% - a 20-point swing worth factoring into travel timing.

On the multi-year calendar, ORD–DBQ peaks in November at 97.5% on-time ; the softest month is January at 75.5%, a 22.0-point swing that repeats because the corridor's weather and holiday mix stays stable year to year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does ORD to DBQ rank among US routes by traffic?
According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking, ORD to DBQ ranks #4227 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 ORD to DBQ?
Flights from Chicago to Dubuque have a 85.8% on-time rate based on 1,392 flights. The average delay is 72.8 minutes. The best recent month was Nov 2021 with 98% on-time.
What is the cancellation rate for ORD to DBQ?
Over the last 24 months, 3.5% of flights on this route were cancelled (46 of 1,299 flights) and 0.3% were diverted.
How far is the flight from ORD to DBQ?
The flight distance from Chicago (ORD) to Dubuque (DBQ) is approximately 147 miles. This route is served by 1 carrier.
When is the best time to fly from ORD to DBQ?
The best recent month for on-time performance was Nov 2021 (98% on-time). The worst was Oct 2021 (78% 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 ORD–DBQ data

ORD–DBQ runs 6.8 pts above the national 79% average; the remaining risk is month-to-month swing and carrier mix, not a weak headline rate.

  • Compare ORD and DBQ airport profiles: delay causes and top routes differ even on the same corridor. ORD airport
  • If your dates flex, November (97.5% on-time) beats January (75.5%) on this corridor. Seasonal chart
  • 4 other routes post a similar 85.8% 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.