New Orleans (MSY) to Chicago O'Hare (ORD) is 838 miles in a straight line, about 2h 11m gate to gate. Your flight is handed between 7 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.
- MSYTowerLouis Armstrong New Orleans Tower (MSY)Clears you for takeoffThank them →
- ZHUCenterHouston ARTCC (ZHU)Takes over at cruising altitudeThank them →
- ZMECenterMemphis ARTCC (ZME)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
- ZKCCenterKansas City ARTCC (ZKC)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
- ZAUCenterChicago ARTCC (ZAU)Starts your descentThank them →
- C90TRACONChicago TRACON (C90)Lines you up for the approachThank them →
- ORDTowerChicago O'Hare Tower (ORD)Clears you to landThank them →
Flying the other way
Chicago O'Hare (ORD) to New Orleans (MSY)
ORD → C90 → ZAU → ZKC → ZME → ZHU → MSY
About the airports
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport
New Orleans, LA
Codes: MSY · KMSY
Time zone: Central
Control tower: Louis Armstrong New Orleans Tower (MSY)
Chicago O'Hare International Airport
Chicago, IL
Codes: ORD · KORD
Time zone: Central
Control tower: Chicago O'Hare Tower (ORD)
More routes
- New Orleans (MSY) to Atlanta (ATL)
- New Orleans (MSY) to Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW)
- New Orleans (MSY) to Denver (DEN)
- New Orleans (MSY) to Los Angeles (LAX)
- New Orleans (MSY) to New York JFK (JFK)
- New Orleans (MSY) to Las Vegas (LAS)
- New Orleans (MSY) to Orlando (MCO)
- New Orleans (MSY) to Miami (MIA)
- New Orleans (MSY) to Charlotte (CLT)
- New Orleans (MSY) to Seattle (SEA)
- New Orleans (MSY) to Phoenix (PHX)
- Chicago O'Hare (ORD) to Atlanta (ATL)
- Chicago O'Hare (ORD) to Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW)
- Chicago O'Hare (ORD) to Denver (DEN)
- Los Angeles (LAX) to Chicago O'Hare (ORD)
- New York JFK (JFK) to Chicago O'Hare (ORD)
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 New Orleans (MSY) to Chicago O'Hare (ORD)?
About 2h 11m gate to gate for the 838-mile trip.
How far is New Orleans (MSY) from Chicago O'Hare (ORD)?
838 miles (728 nautical miles, 1,349 km) in a straight line. The path your flight actually takes is usually a little longer.
Which air traffic controllers handle a flight from New Orleans (MSY) to Chicago O'Hare (ORD)?
Usually 7 facilities: Louis Armstrong New Orleans Tower (MSY), Houston ARTCC (ZHU), Memphis ARTCC (ZME), Kansas City ARTCC (ZKC), Chicago ARTCC (ZAU), Chicago TRACON (C90) and Chicago O'Hare Tower (ORD). You can thank each one on its own wall at Thank ATC.
Is there a time change between New Orleans (MSY) and Chicago O'Hare (ORD)?
No. New Orleans (MSY) and Chicago O'Hare (ORD) are in the same time zone.