O'hare To Hobby Airport: Direct Or Connecting Flights?

Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) is a major international airport located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. It is one of the busiest airports in the world, serving a large number of passengers annually. O'Hare offers non-stop flights to numerous destinations worldwide, including North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. On the other hand, William P. Hobby Airport, often referred to as Houston Hobby Airport, is situated in Houston, Texas, United States. It is a bustling airport that serves as a gateway to the Houston area. There are direct flights available between Houston Hobby Airport and Chicago O'Hare International Airport, with various airlines offering competitive prices. Passengers can choose from a range of options, including American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Frontier, to make their journey between the two airports.

Cheap flights from Houston Hobby Airport to Chicago O'Hare Airport are available from $99

According to Travelocity, airfares offered on Thursdays tend to be the cheapest, while Tuesday and Wednesday prices are also good. You may want to prepare your budget if booking during the weekend, as data shows that is when prices are generally at their highest. In 2021, flights departing on a Monday were generally the cheapest of the week, whereas you may pay a premium for weekend flights when demand is usually high. On average, tickets were most expensive for Saturday departures.

If you're looking for a direct flight, you won't find any on this route. However, Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, and Delta will get you to your destination in a timely manner. Flights between Houston and Chicago take about 4 hours and 53 minutes in total.

If you're looking for the lowest fares by day and time to fly from Houston Hobby Airport to Chicago O'Hare Airport, Southwest Airlines has a Low Fare Calendar you can check out. You can also bundle your Southwest Airlines flight with a hotel or rental car booking to find more savings.

American Airlines and Frontier are the two most popular airlines for this route

Yes, you can travel between O'Hare and Hobby airports. The two airports are located in different states, with O'Hare International Airport (ORD) in Chicago, Illinois, and Hobby Airport (HOU) in Houston, Texas.

Popular Airlines for the O'Hare to Hobby Route

The two airlines most popular with KAYAK users for flights from Houston Hobby Airport to Chicago O'Hare Airport are American Airlines and Frontier.

American Airlines

With an average price of $249 for the route and an overall rating of 7.2, American Airlines is the most popular choice.

Frontier

Frontier is another great choice for the route, with an average price of $145 and an overall rating of 6.0.

Other Airlines

Other airlines that operate between the two airports include Southwest, Delta, and SkyTeam. Southwest is the most popular choice for the reverse route, from O'Hare to Hobby, with an average price of $366 and an overall rating of 8.1.

Chicago O'Hare International Airport is located 17 miles northwest of the Loop business district

Chicago O'Hare International Airport, also known by its IATA code ORD, ICAO code KORD, and FAA LID code ORD, is a major international airport located in Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. It is situated approximately 17 miles (27 km) northwest of the Loop business district, specifically on the city's Northwest Side.

The airport covers a vast area of 7,627 acres (11.92 sq mi or 30.87 km2) and is owned by the Chicago Department of Aviation, which also operates the airport under an agreement with Hilton Hotels. O'Hare has a strong connection to the city of Chicago, initially serving as a manufacturing plant for Douglas C-54 Skymasters during World War II. The site was chosen for its easy access to the city's workforce, railroads, and distance from potential enemy threats.

O'Hare International Airport is well-connected to the city centre and surrounding areas through various transportation options. The Chicago-area commuter rail system, Metra, has a transfer station for its North Central Service (NCS) at the northeast corner of the O'Hare Multi-Modal Facility (MMF). Additionally, the CTA Blue Line provides direct service from the airport to downtown via the Milwaukee–Dearborn subway in the Loop, continuing to west suburban Forest Park. Bus services, including Pace, Peoria Charter, Van Galder Bus Company, and Wisconsin Coach Lines, also operate to and from the airport, stopping at the MMF.

O'Hare is considered a highly connected airport, offering non-stop flights to a wide range of destinations. As of Summer 2024, the airport provides non-stop flights to 249 destinations across North America, South America, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and the North Atlantic region. Its connectivity has earned it the title of the most connected airport in the United States and the fifth most connected airport worldwide.

O'Hare is considered the most connected airport in the US and the 5th most connected in the world

O'Hare International Airport, serving Chicago, Illinois, is considered the most connected airport in the US and the 5th most connected in the world. It has non-stop flights to 249 destinations across the world, including North America, South America, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and the North Atlantic region. O'Hare is one of two major airports serving Chicago and has eight runways, with scheduled flights from around 50 airlines.

O'Hare's first began as an airfield serving a Douglas manufacturing plant for C-54 military transports during World War II. The site was originally known as Orchard Place, previously a small German-American farming community. The plant required easy access to Chicago's large workforce, railroads, and a location far from enemy threat. The airfield was initially known as Douglas Airport and had four 5,500-foot runways.

In 1949, the facility was renamed O'Hare Airport to honour Edward "Butch" O'Hare, the US Navy's first flying ace and a Medal of Honor recipient in World War II. Despite this name change, its IATA code remained ORD, which has no connection to the airport's name or metropolitan area. O'Hare's growth was initially slow, as Chicago's Midway Airport remained the world's busiest airport, and airlines were reluctant to move. However, with improvements like the opening of its first international terminal in 1958, O'Hare expanded rapidly.

Today, O'Hare is a bustling airport, consistently ranking among the busiest airports worldwide. It has a vast network of flights, with more than 27,000 average daily round trips, and 40% of its operations are with regional jets. American Eagle has the most significant presence among regional jet carriers. O'Hare is also a hub for major airlines like United Airlines, American Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Delta, and Southwest.

O'Hare's high connectivity is reflected in its ranking as the fifth most connected airport globally by aviation analytics firms like Cirium. This ranking considers the number of destinations served, with O'Hare offering flights to 270 destinations. O'Hare's efficient operations and convenient location have contributed to its reputation as one of the world's most connected airports.

O'Hare's three pairs of angled runways allow takeoffs into the wind but have caused delays and safety concerns

O'Hare International Airport in Chicago and Hobby Airport in Houston are connected by flights. The average price of a round-trip flight between the two airports is $139, with one-way tickets starting at $99. The two most popular airlines for this route are American Airlines and Frontier.

O'Hare International Airport has a complex runway system. When the O'Hare Modernization is complete, the airport will have six parallel east/west runways and two crosswind runways oriented in a northeast/southwest direction. The primary consideration in determining runway orientation is the prevailing wind direction, in lieu of spatial constraints or obstructions that may prevent optimal alignment. To mitigate the occurrence of crosswind operations, which are more challenging and dangerous, runways at airports are designed to align with the wind direction. Utilizing runways oriented with the wind direction allows aircraft to take off and land into the headwind, reducing the length of the runway used. Taking off and landing into the wind increases the relative airspeed of the aircraft, creating more lift and allowing aircraft to reach takeoff velocity with a shorter amount of ground roll.

O'Hare International Airport's runway system has caused some delays and safety concerns. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) determined that delays would once again grow after the completion of the modernization effort to levels experienced in the early 2000s when the airport reached approximately 1.4 million total annual takeoffs and landings. The FAA is also exploring options for the possible use of alternative nighttime runways to address community noise concerns.

The angle of the runway is critical for aircraft takeoff. Aircraft carriers are equipped with a catapult system that launches aircraft into the air, and the angle of the runway helps optimize this process by ensuring that the aircraft can achieve the required lift to get airborne. The angle of the runway is carefully calculated based on factors such as the weight of the aircraft, wind conditions, and the type of aircraft being launched. This angle is designed to provide the optimal amount of lift while minimizing the risk of overloading the catapult system or causing the aircraft to stall.

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