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Chicago to New Orleans Flight Distance

Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY)

Short HaulSouth (190°)Direct flights available
Primary sources · 6
  1. [1] Vincenty (1975)Direct and Inverse Solutions of Geodesics on the Ellipsoid — the iterative formula used for distance · Survey Review XXIII (176), pp. 88–93 · April 1975 https://www.ngs.noaa.gov/PUBS_LIB/inverse.pdf
  2. [2] NGA.STND.0036_1.0.0_WGS84WGS-84 reference ellipsoid (a = 6,378,137 m, 1/f = 298.257223563) · NGA Standard · July 2014 https://earth-info.nga.mil/index.php?dir=wgs84&action=wgs84
  3. [3] DESNZ 2024 conversion factorsPer-km kg CO₂e factors for the three distance bands and four cabin classes · UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero · June 2024 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/greenhouse-gas-reporting-conversion-factors-2024
  4. [4] Lee et al. (2021)Effective radiative forcing of aviation — the science behind the 1.9 × CO₂ → CO₂e uplift · Atmospheric Environment 244, 117834 · January 2021 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2020.117834
  5. [5] OpenFlightsAirport coordinates and IATA codes · openflights.org/data.php · Community-maintained https://openflights.org/data.php
  6. [6] Sack (2010)Jet-lag review — clinical chronobiology and asymmetric recovery rates · New England Journal of Medicine 362:440 · February 2010 https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMcp0909838

Loading globe...

837
Miles
1,347
Kilometers
727
Nautical miles
2h 5m
Flight time
Route Distance Scale1,347 km of 18,000 km max
0Short <1,500kmMedium <4,000kmLong <12,000kmUltra-Long

Your Route Summary

ORD
Origin
Chicago O'Hare International Airport
Chicago, United States
41.9786°, -87.9048°
MSY
Destination
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport
New Orleans, United States
29.9934°, -90.2580°

What This Means For Your Trip

Flight Duration: At 837 miles, this short-haul flight will take approximately 2h 5m. This is a relatively quick flight where you may not even need entertainment.

Time Adjustment: New Orleans is 0 hours ahead of Chicago. You should experience minimal jet lag.

Environmental Impact: An economy class seat produces approximately 343 kg of CO2. Consider carbon offset programs if environmental impact is a concern.

Flight Options: 13 airlines serve this route, giving you options for schedule and price comparison.

Complete Flight Analysis

MetricValueCategory / Reference
Distance (Miles)837 miPrimary frequent flyer unit
Distance (Kilometers)1,347 kmInternational standard
Distance (Nautical Miles)727 nmAviation standard
Flight Time2h 5mBased on 850 km/h cruise + ground time
Route ClassificationSHORT HAULShort-haul flight (under 1,500 km)
Flight Direction190° SSouth
Cruising Altitude33,000 ftFL330 (10,058 m)
Time Difference+0hJet lag: none
CO2 (Economy)343 kgDEFRA 2024 factors
CO2 (Business)996 kg2.9x economy
CO2 (First Class)1374 kg4x economy
Trees to Offset32Economy class, per passenger
Fuel per Passenger40 L~7,200 L total (180 pax)
Operating Airlines13Direct flights available

Tips for This Route

Book Early
Book 3-6 weeks ahead for competitive fares on this route.
Best Window Seat
Choose the left side for views with less sun glare on this south flight.
Adjust Your Clock
Minimal time change—no special preparation needed.
Pack Smart
Short flight—light carry-on with essentials is sufficient.
Offset Your Impact
Consider offsetting 343 kg CO2 through verified programs—equivalent to planting 32 trees.
Compare Prices
With 13 airlines on this route, compare prices across carriers for the best deal.
ORD
DEPARTURE

Chicago O'Hare International Airport

Chicago, United States

IATA / ICAO
ORD / KORD
Elevation
672 ft (205 m)
Local Time
11:33 AM
GMT-5
Coordinates
41.9786°, -87.9048°
View full airport details
MSY
ARRIVAL+0h from departure

Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport

New Orleans, United States

IATA / ICAO
MSY / KMSY
Elevation
4 ft (1 m)
Local Time
11:33 AM
GMT-5
Coordinates
29.9934°, -90.2580°
View full airport details

Airlines Flying This Route

13 airlines operate flights between Chicago and New Orleans.

EI
Aer Lingus
Ireland
AC
Air Canada
Canada
AS
Alaska Airlines
ALASKA
NH
All Nippon Airways
Japan
AA
American Airlines
United States
BA
British Airways
United Kingdom
EY
Etihad Airways
United Arab Emirates
IB
Iberia Airlines
Spain
JL
Japan Airlines Domestic
Japan
QF
Qantas
Australia
QR
Qatar Airways
Qatar
US
US Airways
United States
UA
United Airlines
United States

Flight Details

Cruising Altitude
33,000 ft (10,058 m)
FL330
Flight Direction
South
Initial bearing: 190°
Route Type
Short-haul flight (under 1,500 km)
Typical Aircraft
Airbus A320Boeing 737Embraer E190
Fuel Consumption
40 L per passenger
~7,200 L total (180 passengers)
Geographic Context
Route stays within the Northern Hemisphere
Both airports are in the Northern Hemisphere. Both airports are in the Western Hemisphere.

Flight Midpoint

The geographic midpoint of this flight is located at:

Latitude
35° 59' 30.2" N
35.9917°
Longitude
89° 10' 16.0" W
-89.1711°
Halfway Point
419 mi
63 min into flight

Carbon Emissions by Cabin Class

CO2 emissions vary by cabin class due to seat space allocation. Based on DEFRA 2024 emission factors.

Economy
343 kg
CO2e: 653 kg
Premium Economy
550 kg
CO2e: 1044 kg
Business
996 kg
CO2e: 1893 kg
First Class
1374 kg
CO2e: 2610 kg
Carbon Offset
To offset an economy class seat, plant approximately 32 trees.Equivalent to 0.7 months of average person's carbon footprint

Jet Lag & Travel Tips

Jet Lag Severity
none
Time Zone Change
0 hours
Flying noneward
Tips for This Journey
  • Minimal time difference - jet lag unlikely

Seat Recommendations

Best Window for Views
left Side
Sun will be on the left (east/north) side
Recommendation
Either side offers good views on southbound flights

Distance in Perspective

1
3.4% of Earth's circumference
2
285 flights of this distance would reach the Moon
3
Comparable to New York to Miami (1,756 km)
4
1.1 hours at the speed of sound

Distance & Speed Reference

MeasurementValue
Statute Miles837 mi
Kilometers1,347 km
Nautical Miles727 nm
Meters1,347,000 m
Feet4,419,360 ft
Flight Time (850 km/h)2h 5m
Driving Time (80 km/h avg)17 hours

Travel Speed Comparison

How long would it take to cover the 1,347 km between Chicago and New Orleans at different speeds?

ModeSpeedTime
Commercial Jet850 km/h2h 5m
Turboprop Aircraft500 km/h2h 42m
Bullet Train320 km/h4h 13m
Car (highway)100 km/h13h 28m
Walking5 km/h269h (11 days)
Speed of Sound1,235 km/h1h 5m

Round Trip Summary

1,674
total miles
2,694
total km
4h 10m
total flight time
686
kg CO2 (economy)
View Return Flight: MSY to ORD

Quick Facts

Distance837 mi
Flight Time2h 5m
Route Typeshort haul
DirectionS
AltitudeFL330
Time Diff+0h
CO2 (Economy)343 kg
Airlines13

Frequently Asked Questions

How far is Chicago from New Orleans?

The flight distance from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) is 837 miles (1,347 km). This is the great circle distance calculated using the Vincenty formula.

How long is the flight?

A direct flight takes approximately 2h 5m. This is a short-haul flight typically cruising at 33,000 feet (FL330).

What is the time difference?

New Orleans is 0 hours ahead of Chicago.

What airlines fly this route?

13 airlines operate this route: Aer Lingus, Air Canada, Alaska Airlines and 10 more.

What is the carbon footprint?

Economy class: 343 kg CO2 per passenger. Business class: 996 kg. First class: 1374 kg. Offset with ~32 trees.

Which seat side is best?

For this South flight, the left side offers the best views away from sun glare.

Can I drive from Chicago to New Orleans instead of flying?

While driving is technically possible at 1,347 km, it would take approximately 17 hours of non-stop driving. Flying saves you significant time, reducing travel to just 2h 5m.

What aircraft typically fly this route?

This short-haul route is typically served by Airbus A320, Boeing 737, Embraer E190 aircraft. These are narrow-body aircraft designed for efficient short-distance travel.

How can I offset the carbon from this flight?

An economy class seat on this route produces 343 kg CO2. You can offset this by planting approximately 32 trees, purchasing verified carbon credits through programs like Gold Standard or Verra, or supporting renewable energy projects. Many airlines also offer built-in carbon offset options during booking.

External Resources & References

Learn more about the airports, aviation data, and carbon emissions methodology used in this calculation.

Dig deeper on this route