Chicago to Des Moines (ORD–DSM) — 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.
ORD–DSM is served by 2 airlines with nonstop service. United Airlines and American Airlines lead the route. The flight covers 298 miles in approximately 1h 35m. 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, NZ | 119 | 319, 739, 73G, CR5, CR7, E7W | 1h28-1h43 | Star Alliance | AC, AV, CM, EK, NZ | |
| AA American Airlines Also: AS, EI, IB, QR | 35 | CR7, E70, E75, E75S | 1h32-1h39 | Oneworld | AS, EI, IB, QR |
Weekly Schedule Pattern
Connection Landscape
On-Time Performance
Other ways to reach Des Moines from Chicago
| Metric | ORD→DSM | MDW→DSM | MKE→DSM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distance from ORD | – | 15 mi | 67 mi |
| Nonstop airlines | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| Weekly flights | 331 | 19 | – |
| Flight time | 1h 35m | 1h 20m | 1h 13m |
| Departure OTP | 84% | – | – |
Travel Essentials
ORD: CDT · DSM: CDT
When it's 6:00 PM in Chicago, it's 6:00 PM in Des Moines.
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.
ORD–DSM Quick Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago O'Hare to Des Moines: Regional Jet Shuttle
ORD-DSM is a thin but consistent regional market operated entirely by mainline partner regional carriers. American Eagle and United Express between them run five to six daily nonstops, all on regional jets, covering the 290-mile route in under an hour of block time. The route is primarily driven by business travel: Des Moines houses the headquarters of Principal Financial, Wells Fargo's home mortgage division, and Meredith Corporation, among others. Leisure demand is limited but present during Iowa State Fair week in August, which is the single largest passenger spike of the year for DSM. Des Moines International operates from a single terminal with two concourses; capacity is modest and the airport is routinely ranked among the easiest to navigate in the Midwest.
Hub Connection Value
O'Hare is both a United hub and an American hub, making ORD the logical connection point for Des Moines passengers routing to the coasts, Europe, or Latin America on either carrier. United connects ORD to 50+ international destinations; American connects to 30+ international markets including transatlantic and transpacific routes from ORD. The ORD-DSM regional jet frequency, typically spread across morning, midday, and evening banks, aligns with O'Hare's international departure banks to minimize minimum connection times. Passengers connecting through ORD should confirm terminal assignments: United uses Terminals 1 and 2; American uses Terminal 3.