CHICAGO (AP) – Chicago’s O’Hare Airport finished dead last among the nation’s 31 busiest airports for on-time departures and arrivals last year.

Denver International Airport was first in on-time arrivals, with 83 percent of flights arriving on schedule, while Houston’s Bush Intercontinental Airport was No. 1 for on-time departures, at 87 percent.

Nationwide, the 19 airlines that reported their on-time performance to the Transportation Department said 78 percent of flights arrived on time last year, down from 82 percent in 2003.

Peter Delain, a business travel for more than 20 years, tries to avoid O’Hare altogether.

“I will fly through Detroit or Cincinnati before coming to O’Hare because I don’t get delayed through those other cities,” said Delain, a sales manager who was returning home to Green Bay, Wis., from a meeting in Chicago.

On a clear blue Friday, there were still a few delays at O’Hare. Newlyweds Kathryn Koch, 36, and John Epperson, 33, both of Chicago, were relieved to see their flight to a two-week honeymoon to Florence, Italy, was – thus far – on time.

“It’s a crap shoot. So far we’ve had good luck with delays at O’Hare,” Koch said. “But I should probably knock on wood as I say that.”