Chicago to San Salvador (San Luis Talpa) (ORD–SAL) — 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–SAL is served by 1 airline with nonstop service. avianca leads the route. The flight covers 1,973 miles in approximately 4h 40m. Beyond nonstop, 1-stop connecting options are also available.
Airline Landscape
| Airline | Freq/wk | Aircraft | Duration | Dep OTP | Alliance | Codeshares |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AV avianca | 3 | A20N | 4h40 | Star Alliance | – |
Weekly Schedule Pattern
Connection Landscape
On-Time Performance
Travel Essentials
ORD: CDT · SAL: CST
When it's 6:00 PM in Chicago, it's 5:00 PM in San Salvador (San Luis Talpa).
US passport holders enter El Salvador visa-free for up to 90 days. No advance application is needed. El Salvador is part of the CA-4 agreement with Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, meaning the 90-day period is shared across all four countries. Passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of entry. At El Salvador International Airport (SAL) in San Salvador, immigration stamps your passport. A $12 tourist card fee is included in your airline ticket.
The 90-day CA-4 clock starts when you enter any of the four member countries and does not reset when crossing borders between them. El Salvador is the smallest and most densely populated country in Central America. El Tunco and El Zonte on the Pacific coast are the main surf beaches. Ruta de las Flores, a route through five mountain towns in the western highlands, passes coffee farms, waterfalls, and weekend food markets. El Salvador adopted the US dollar as its official currency in 2001 and also recognizes Bitcoin as legal tender since 2021.
Direct flights from Miami (MIA) to San Salvador run about 3 hours on Avianca and Spirit. Houston (IAH) to SAL runs about 3 hours 30 minutes on United. Los Angeles, Dallas, and Washington Dulles also have nonstop service. Since El Salvador uses the US dollar, there is no currency exchange needed. ATMs dispense US dollars. Card payments work at hotels, restaurants, and larger shops. Bitcoin acceptance varies: the government Chivo wallet and ATMs exist but cash dollars remain the everyday standard. Local buses cost $0.20 to $0.35 per ride. Uber operates in San Salvador.
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–SAL Quick Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Flights from ORD to SAL
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) and El Salvador International Airport Saint Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez (SAL) are connected by nonstop service from avianca. With 3 weekly departures, this is a regularly served route.
ORD to SAL Flight Duration and Schedule
Nonstop flight time from ORD to SAL is about 4 hours 40 minutes gate to gate. The route covers a distance of 1,973 miles (3,175 km). There are approximately 3 weekly flights outbound and 3 return, totaling 6 flights per week in both directions.
Connecting Options and Alternatives
1-stop connecting options are also available, commonly via La Aurora, Miami and Cancún. Two-stop connections are also available via intermediate hubs.