Chicago to Austin (ORD–AUS) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections
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No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.
ORD–AUS is served by 5 airlines with nonstop service. American Airlines, United Airlines and Southwest Airlines lead the route. The flight covers 978 miles in approximately 2h 37m. Beyond nonstop, 200 hubs offer 1-stop connections.
Airline Landscape
| Airline | Freq/wk | Aircraft | Duration | Dep OTP | Alliance | Codeshares |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AA American Airlines Also: AS, AY, EI, GF, IB, QR, RJ | 65 | 319, 738, E75 | 2h42-3h04 | Oneworld | AS, AY, EI, GF, IB, QR, RJ | |
| UA United Airlines Also: AC, EK | 45 | 319, 738 | 2h37-3h06 | Star Alliance | AC, EK | |
| WN Southwest Airlines | 6 | 7M8 | 2h55 | – | – | |
| F9 Frontier | 2 | A20N | 3h21 | – | – | |
| OO SkyWest Airlines | 1 | – | – | – | – |
Weekly Schedule Pattern
Connection Landscape
Other ways to reach Austin from Chicago
| Metric | ORD→AUS | MDW→AUS | GYY→AUS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distance from ORD | – | 15 mi | 36 mi |
| Nonstop airlines | 5 | 5 | 2 |
| Weekly flights | 237 | 32 | 1 |
| Flight time | 2h 37m | 2h 23m | 2h 6m |
| Departure OTP | 61% | – | – |
Travel Essentials
ORD: CDT · AUS: CDT
When it's 6:00 PM in Chicago, it's 6:00 PM in Austin.
CTA Blue Line runs 24/7 from downtown Loop stations to O'Hare (45 min, $5). Pace buses serve suburbs. Ride-shares cost $35–55 from downtown depending on traffic; add 30+ minutes during rush hour on the Kennedy Expressway.Economy parking lots E/F connect via ATS people mover. Terminal 5 (international) is separate from Terminals 1–3; allow extra time for inter-terminal transfers.
CapMetro Route 20 to downtown Congress Ave costs $1.25 and takes 30–35 minutes. Buses depart from outside the terminal on the lower level. Last bus around midnight; late arrivals need a ride-share.Uber and Lyft pickup is on the lower level (follow signs to TNCs). Fares run $20–30 to downtown, 15–20 minutes off-peak. Taxis at the curb: $30–40. Rental car desks are in the main terminal; the QTA (Quick Turnaround Area) is a short shuttle ride. Afternoon and evening arrivals may face longer drive times due to city congestion.
Humid subtropical climate with hot summers. July and August average 36–38°C with heat indices that can reach 43°C. Winter (December–February) is generally mild at 7–17°C. Austin is vulnerable to rare but severe ice storms. Winter Storm Uri (2021) is the benchmark for worst-case disruption, and they can paralyze the city and airport.
Severe thunderstorms peak April through May with hail and tornado risk. Spring storm systems can cause significant ground delays. October and November are the most reliably stable months.
ORD–AUS Quick Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
O'Hare to Austin: Tech Corridor Between Two Major Metros
ORD-AUS connects Chicago to one of the fastest-expanding metro areas in the US. United leads with 4 to 6 daily nonstops from its ORD hub. American adds 3 to 4 daily departures. Southwest operates from both ORD and Midway (MDW). Spirit provides a low-cost option. The 1,042-mile sector runs about 3 hours southbound. Austin's tech sector, anchored by Apple, Google, Tesla, Samsung, and a deep startup ecosystem, generates heavy business demand from Chicago's corporate base in finance, consulting, and professional services. SXSW in March produces the single biggest annual demand spike on the route.
Austin's Capacity Challenges
Austin-Bergstrom Airport is handling traffic levels that exceed its original design capacity. A new midfield concourse is under construction to add gates and relieve terminal crowding. Peak morning and evening departure banks can feel congested. Security wait times during SXSW, ACL Festival, and Formula 1 weekends can exceed 45 minutes. TSA PreCheck and Clear lanes help during those peaks. O'Hare's Terminal 1 (United) and Terminals 1-3 (American) provide the departure facilities for ORD-AUS. Both carriers offer multiple departure windows through the day. The late evening departure from ORD around 20:00 to 21:00 arrives Austin before midnight and is popular with business travelers maximizing their Chicago workday.