Madison to Chicago (MSN–ORD) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections
No flights match your filters.
No scheduled airline flights on this route — it's flown by charter / private operators (). No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.
Most recently operated nonstop flights — the month shown is when each was last scheduled. Most destinations remain reachable with a connection.
No discontinued nonstop flights on record for this route.
MSN–ORD is served by 5 airlines with nonstop service. United Airlines, American Airlines and SkyWest Airlines lead the route. The flight covers 108 miles in approximately 1h 17m. Beyond nonstop, 1-stop connecting options are also available.
Airline Landscape
| Airline | Freq/wk | Aircraft | Duration | Dep OTP | Alliance | Codeshares |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UA United Airlines Also: AC, AV, CM, EK, NH, NZ | 100 | 319, 320, 738, 739, 73G, CR5 | 1h10-1h20 | Star Alliance | AC, AV, CM, EK, NH, NZ | |
| AA American Airlines Also: AS, BA, IB, JL, QR | 81 | CR7, E70, E75 | 1h10-1h31 | Oneworld | AS, BA, IB, JL, QR | |
| OO SkyWest Airlines | 1 | – | – | – | – | |
| DL Delta Air Lines | 0 | – | – | SkyTeam | – | |
| G7 GoJet Airlines | 0 | – | – | – | – |
Weekly Schedule Pattern
Connection Landscape
On-Time Performance
Other ways to reach Chicago from Madison
| Metric | MSN→ORD | RFD→ORD | MKE→ORD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distance from MSN | – | 66 mi | 74 mi |
| Nonstop airlines | 5 | 10 | 21 |
| Weekly flights | 342 | 28 | 364 |
| Flight time | 1h 17m | 1h 35m | 0h 59m |
| Departure OTP | 100% | – | – |
Travel Essentials
MSN: CDT · ORD: CDT
When it's 6:00 PM in Madison, it's 6:00 PM in Chicago.
CTA Blue Line runs 24/7 from O'Hare to downtown Chicago (45 min, $5). Taxis use a flat-rate zone system; downtown is around $40–45 plus tip. Ride-shares are typically $30–50.The Airport Transit System (ATS) connects all terminals and parking. Metra commuter rail does not serve O'Hare directly; transfer downtown via Blue Line.
Continental climate with four distinct seasons. Summers are warm and humid (25–32°C) with afternoon thunderstorms. Winters are cold (−10 to −2°C) with heavy snowfall that regularly delays flights December through March.
Spring and fall are mild but unpredictable. Pack layers. Lake Michigan moderates temperatures near the lakefront, but O'Hare sits inland and runs colder.
MSN–ORD Quick Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Madison to Chicago O'Hare: Regional Feeder to a Global Hub
MSN-ORD serves travelers connecting from Madison, Wisconsin to O'Hare's full domestic and international network. American Airlines and United Airlines are the only nonstop operators, with 43 and 69 weekly flights respectively. Block time is 74 minutes for the 220 km segment. American Eagle operates CRJ-200 and CRJ-700 regional jets from Terminal 3 at ORD. United Express uses E175s and CRJ-700s into Terminal 1. Dane County Regional Airport (MSN) is a compact, one-terminal airport that makes the departure process fast. Security lines rarely exceed 10 minutes except during UW home football Saturdays in autumn.
Ground Transport Alternative and Delay Context
Van Galder Bus runs every hour from downtown Madison and the UW campus to O'Hare Terminal 1, priced around $20 to $40. The bus takes three hours each way but connects city centres. The 134-mile drive is 2 hours 15 minutes in standard traffic. Travelers using MSN-ORD primarily for long-haul connections get the most value from the flight. Point-to-point Madison-to-Chicago travel is slower by air than by bus or car when total door-to-door time is counted. O'Hare's chronic convective weather delays in summer affect this route disproportionately, as the short block time offers no recovery buffer once a ground hold is issued.