Chicago to Tocumen (ORD–PTY) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections
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No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.
ORD–PTY is served by 1 airline with nonstop service. Copa Airlines leads the route. The flight covers 2,332 miles in approximately 5h 16m. Beyond nonstop, 58 hubs offer 1-stop connections.
Airline Landscape
| Airline | Freq/wk | Aircraft | Duration | Dep OTP | Alliance | Codeshares |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CM Copa Airlines Also: BR | 14 | 738, 7M9 | 5h20 | Star Alliance | BR |
Weekly Schedule Pattern
Connection Landscape
Travel Essentials
ORD: CDT · PTY: EST
When it's 6:00 PM in Chicago, it's 6:00 PM in Tocumen.
US passport holders enter Panama visa-free for up to 180 days. No advance application is needed. Passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond the date of entry. A return or onward ticket is required, and immigration may ask for proof of funds ($500 or equivalent). At Tocumen International Airport (PTY) in Panama City, immigration stamps your passport. Panama also requires an online immigration affidavit filled out at migración.gob.pa within 72 hours before arrival.
The 180-day allowance is generous and makes Panama popular with remote workers and retirees. Panama City's skyline is Central America's most modern, with the Casco Viejo historic quarter contrasting the glass towers of Punta Pacifica. The Panama Canal's Miraflores Locks visitor center is 15 minutes from the city center and lets you watch ships transit. Bocas del Toro on the Caribbean coast is a laid-back island town. Boquete in the highlands is known for coffee farms and the Quetzal Trail in Volcan Baru National Park.
Direct flights from Miami (MIA) to Panama City run about 3 hours 15 minutes on American Airlines, Copa, and Delta. Houston (IAH) to PTY runs about 4 hours on United and Copa. Copa Airlines uses PTY as its hub with connections across Latin America. Direct service also operates from New York JFK, Newark, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Los Angeles, Washington Dulles, and Atlanta. Panama uses the US dollar (called the balboa, pegged 1:1). Balboa coins circulate alongside US coins. No currency exchange needed. ATMs dispense US dollars. Card payments work at most businesses. The Panama Metro runs 2 lines from Albrook to the eastern suburbs for $0.35 per ride. Uber operates in Panama City. A taxi across the city costs $3 to $8.
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–PTY Quick Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Flights from ORD to PTY
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) and Tocumen International Airport (PTY) are connected by nonstop service from Copa Airlines. With 21 weekly departures, this is a well served route.
ORD to PTY Flight Duration and Schedule
Nonstop flight time from ORD to PTY ranges from 5 hours 16 minutes to 5 hours 20 minutes. The route covers a distance of 2,332 miles (3,753 km). There are approximately 21 weekly flights outbound and 28 return, totaling 49 flights per week in both directions.
Connecting Options and Alternatives
58 one-stop connections are available, with the fastest taking approximately 6 hours via OPF. Two-stop connections are also available via intermediate hubs.