Best Time to Fly ORD to SNA: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Chicago O'Hare International → John Wayne Airport-Orange County
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
2,189 flights were scheduled from Chicago (ORD) to Santa Ana (SNA) in the last 12 months, and 75.2% of those that flew arrived on time, 2.4 points below the US average of 77.6%.
Among 2 airlines, United Airlines led with 76.5% on time and American Airlines was last with 74.1%.
Over 24 months, Tuesday was the most reliable day (86% on time) and July the worst month (75%).
The cancellation rate was 1.1% (US average 1.8%).
ORD to SNA on-time performance by airline
Last 12 months. Airlines with fewer than 30 completed flights are marked “limited data”.
| Airline | On time | Avg delay when late | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlines | 76.5% | 48 min | 0.3% | 1,041 |
| American Airlines | 74.1% | 62 min | 1.8% | 1,148 |
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly ORD to SNA
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 4,341 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6am–7am | Limited data | 18 | |
| 7am–8am | 88.3% | 1.2% | 166 |
| 8am–9am | 84.6% | 0.5% | 822 |
| 9am–10am | 80.8% | 0.0% | 563 |
| 10am–11am | 74.2% | 0.4% | 269 |
| 11am–12pm | 71.3% | 0.7% | 305 |
| 12pm–1pm | 73.4% | 1.5% | 131 |
| 1pm–2pm | Limited data | 1 | |
| 3pm–4pm | 87.3% | 0.0% | 80 |
| 4pm–5pm | 73.5% | 0.2% | 636 |
| 5pm–6pm | 72.8% | 1.7% | 232 |
| 6pm–7pm | 74.2% | 2.0% | 354 |
| 7pm–8pm | 80.8% | 0.7% | 746 |
| 8pm–9pm | Limited data | 18 | |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on ORD to SNA
On-time arrivals during holiday periods compared with all other days, last 24 months.
| Period | On time | vs other days | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving week (Tue before to Mon after) | 76.1% | -3.6 pts | 4.0% | 75 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 77.7% | -2.0 pts | 0.0% | 170 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 74.7% | -5.0 pts | 0.8% | 778 |
| All other days | 79.7% | — | 0.6% | 3,318 |
Monthly on-time trend
On-time arrival % each month, with the 12-month US average for reference.
What causes delays on this route
Share of reported delay minutes, last 12 months (BTS cause categories).