Chicago Midway (MDW) to Houston (IAH) is 918 miles in a straight line, about 2h 20m gate to gate. Your flight is handed between 9 air traffic control facilities along the way.
Who handles your flight
Every airliner is passed from one air traffic control facility to the next. On the most direct path, these are the teams that guide you, in order. Weather and traffic can send a flight through other centers, so your actual flight may differ a little.
- MDWTowerChicago Midway Tower (MDW)Clears you for takeoffThank them →
- C90TRACONChicago TRACON (C90)Guides the climb outThank them →
- ZAUCenterChicago ARTCC (ZAU)Takes over at cruising altitudeThank them →
- ZKCCenterKansas City ARTCC (ZKC)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
- ZMECenterMemphis ARTCC (ZME)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
- ZFWCenterFort Worth ARTCC (ZFW)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
- ZHUCenterHouston ARTCC (ZHU)Starts your descentThank them →
- I90TRACONHouston TRACON (I90)Lines you up for the approachThank them →
- IAHTowerHouston Bush Tower (IAH)Clears you to landThank them →
Flying the other way
Houston (IAH) to Chicago Midway (MDW)
IAH → I90 → ZHU → ZFW → ZME → ZKC → ZAU → C90 → MDW
About the airports
Chicago Midway International Airport
Chicago, IL
Codes: MDW · KMDW
Time zone: Central
Control tower: Chicago Midway Tower (MDW)
George Bush Intercontinental Airport
Houston, TX
Codes: IAH · KIAH
Time zone: Central
Control tower: Houston Bush Tower (IAH)
More routes
- Chicago Midway (MDW) to Atlanta (ATL)
- Chicago Midway (MDW) to Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW)
- Chicago Midway (MDW) to Denver (DEN)
- Chicago Midway (MDW) to Los Angeles (LAX)
- Chicago Midway (MDW) to New York JFK (JFK)
- Chicago Midway (MDW) to Las Vegas (LAS)
- Chicago Midway (MDW) to Orlando (MCO)
- Chicago Midway (MDW) to Miami (MIA)
- Chicago Midway (MDW) to Charlotte (CLT)
- Chicago Midway (MDW) to Seattle (SEA)
- Chicago Midway (MDW) to Phoenix (PHX)
- Chicago Midway (MDW) to Newark (EWR)
- Chicago Midway (MDW) to San Francisco (SFO)
- Chicago Midway (MDW) to Boston (BOS)
- Chicago Midway (MDW) to Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
- Chicago Midway (MDW) to Minneapolis (MSP)
How we figure this out
Distance is the great-circle distance between the two airports, the shortest path over the curved Earth. Flight time assumes an average airliner speed of about 500 mph plus about 30 minutes for taxi, takeoff and landing. The list of facilities follows the same path, using each airport's tower and approach control and the FAA's en route center boundaries.
Say thanks to the controllers who got you there. It's free, takes 30 seconds, and every post is checked before it goes up.
Common questions
How long is the flight from Chicago Midway (MDW) to Houston (IAH)?
About 2h 20m gate to gate for the 918-mile trip.
How far is Chicago Midway (MDW) from Houston (IAH)?
918 miles (798 nautical miles, 1,478 km) in a straight line. The path your flight actually takes is usually a little longer.
Which air traffic controllers handle a flight from Chicago Midway (MDW) to Houston (IAH)?
Usually 9 facilities: Chicago Midway Tower (MDW), Chicago TRACON (C90), Chicago ARTCC (ZAU), Kansas City ARTCC (ZKC), Memphis ARTCC (ZME), Fort Worth ARTCC (ZFW), Houston ARTCC (ZHU), Houston TRACON (I90) and Houston Bush Tower (IAH). You can thank each one on its own wall at Thank ATC.
Is there a time change between Chicago Midway (MDW) and Houston (IAH)?
No. Chicago Midway (MDW) and Houston (IAH) are in the same time zone.