New Orleans to Chicago (MSY–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.
MSY–ORD is served by 5 airlines with nonstop service. United Airlines, American Airlines and Spirit Airlines lead the route. The flight covers 838 miles in approximately 2h 44m. 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, CM, NH, NZ, SN, TK | 66 | 739, 7M9, E75L, E7W | 2h36-2h53 | Star Alliance | AC, CM, NH, NZ, SN, TK | |
| AA American Airlines Also: AS, AY, BA, CX, GF, JL, QF, QR, RJ | 27 | 319, E70, E75L | 2h24-2h45 | Oneworld | AS, AY, BA, CX, GF, JL, QF, QR, RJ | |
| NK Spirit Airlines | 4 | – | – | – | – | |
| F9 Frontier | 0 | – | – | – | – | |
| MX Mexicana | 0 | – | – | – | – |
Weekly Schedule Pattern
Connection Landscape
On-Time Performance
Other ways to reach Chicago from New Orleans
| Metric | MSY→ORD | GPT→ORD | JAN→ORD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distance from MSY | – | 77 mi | 161 mi |
| Nonstop airlines | 5 | 2 | 2 |
| Weekly flights | 253 | – | – |
| Flight time | 2h 44m | 2h 15m | 1h 38m |
| Departure OTP | 100% | – | – |
Travel Essentials
MSY: CDT · ORD: CDT
When it's 6:00 PM in New Orleans, 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.
MSY–ORD Quick Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
New Orleans to Chicago O'Hare: Hub Corridor with Leisure and Business Mix
MSY-ORD connects two major cultural centres across the 843-mile Gulf-to-Midwest corridor. American and United operate nonstop service from their respective O'Hare hubs, with combined departures averaging 4 to 5 per day. Spirit and Frontier add lower-frequency nonstop options. Block time is 2 hours 55 minutes to 3 hours. The route carries corporate travel between two active business markets alongside leisure passengers. New Orleans Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest periods produce pronounced demand spikes that push fares sharply higher and fill capacity weeks in advance.
Operational Context and Connectivity
MSY opened a new single-terminal facility in 2019, replacing an older multi-concourse layout. The new terminal consolidates all departures and arrivals under one roof with three concourses, significantly improving the passenger experience for connections and ground transport. ORD is one of the highest-delay airports in the US by total minutes of delay, driven by summer convective weather and winter ice and snow. Passengers connecting through ORD to international flights on American or United should allow generous layover time, particularly in winter and July through August. O'Hare connects to downtown Chicago via the CTA Blue Line in about 45 minutes for $5. MSY connects to downtown New Orleans via the Loyola/UNO streetcar line and bus connections, with rideshare averaging $25 to 35 to the French Quarter.