Discover Chicago O’Hare Airport’s Longest Routes in 2025

Chicago O’Hare’s Role as a Global Aviation Hub

Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) ranks as the world’s eighth busiest airport and serves as the primary airfield for the United States’ third-largest city. It functions as a major hub for American Airlines and hosts the largest hub for United Airlines. The airport benefits from massive business demand and acts as a key connection point for flights worldwide, supported by operations from over 30 international carriers.

Major Airline Alliances at Chicago O’Hare

Chicago stands as a significant business center, and its size ensures substantial local demand for any route. The presence of major airline hubs operated by American and United Airlines facilitates linkage through alliances such as oneworld and Star Alliance, enhancing access to major connecting networks and bolstering passenger flow.

Cathay Pacific‘s Flight to Hong Kong: The Longest Route

Data from Cirium reveals that Chicago O’Hare will have seven routes exceeding 6,000 nautical miles in 2025. Topping this list is Cathay Pacific’s daily flight to Hong Kong International Airport, stretching 7,793 miles (12,541 kilometers). Cathay Pacific operates Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, configured with 334 seats, including business, premium economy, and economy classes. Although United Airlines previously operated this route, only Cathay Pacific connects these cities directly now. American sells tickets on this flight through the oneworld alliance.

Ethiopian Airlines: Connecting Africa to Chicago

The second longest route to Chicago is operated by Ethiopian Airlines, spanning 6,584 nautical miles (12,194 kilometers) from Addis Ababa. As Ethiopia’s largest airline, Ethiopian operates this route using a Boeing 787-8, featuring 270 seats in a two-class configuration. The airline’s US flights include a stopover due to altitude challenges at Addis Ababa’s Bole International Airport.

South Asia and Middle Eastern Connections

The third longest route is Air India‘s nonstop service to Delhi, covering 6,502 nautical miles (12,042 kilometers) using Boeing 777 variants. Other significant routes include flights to Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Doha, operated by Etihad Airways, Emirates, and Qatar Airways, respectively. These routes utilize advanced aircraft like the Boeing 777-300ER and Airbus A350-1000.

East Asian Flights From Chicago

Significant air service to East Asia includes EVA Air’s route to Taipei using a Boeing 777-300ER, covering 6,479 nautical miles (12,001 kilometers). Korean Air also connects Chicago to Seoul with the same aircraft type. Five daily flights link Chicago to Tokyo via United Airlines, ANA, and Japan Airlines, showcasing the strong demand for routes to Japan.

European Routes and South American Connectivity

European routes from Chicago are generally shorter, with the longest being Turkish Airlines’ service to Istanbul, about 4,756 nautical miles (8,809 kilometers). Chicago also connects to Athens seasonally. Meanwhile, the longest South American connection is a United flight to São Paulo using a Boeing 787-10.

Comprehensive List of Longest Routes

Chicago O’Hare’s central location in the US allows it to support a diverse network of over 30 airlines spanning multiple continents. Below is a detailed list of the longest routes from Chicago: