Craving a bit of far-flung international travel? You’re in luck: As of last weekend, Chicago is once again one of five cities in the world offering direct air service to every inhabited continent, according to the Chicago Department of Aviation.
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O’Hare International Airport now offers flights to cities in North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania, joining New York City as one of just two cities in the Americas with nonstop air service to all six inhabited continents. Overseas, the only other cities in this category are London, Dubai and Doha.
The news comes after Air New Zealand relaunched its direct service from O’Hare International Airport to Auckland Airport on Sunday, once again connecting Chicago with Oceania. Travelers will be able to hop on the 16-hour flight, which was suspended during the Covid-19 pandemic, at least three times a week through April.
It’s been a big year for O’Hare’s international travel bonafides as the airport continues to beef up its global route offerings, many of which were put on hold during the pandemic. Last month, the data firm Official Aviation Guide crowned O’Hare as the world’s most internationally connected airport for the first time since 2016. The distinction is measured in part by the number of connections possible within a specific time frame, with 43,350 possible connections available within a six-hour window during O’Hare’s busiest day of aviation.
As of this month, the airport reports a total of 97 daily international flights to 55 cities—you can take a look at the most up-to-date list here if you’re looking to plan your next trip.