First nonstop air service between New Zealand and Chicago lands at O’Hare

Air New Zealand’s inaugural flight between Auckland and Chicago landed at O’Hare International Airport last Friday afternoon.

Flight NZ26 departed at 5:01PM local time in Auckland and landed in Chicago at 12:11 PM local time in Chicago. With a flight time of approximately 15 hours northbound and just over 16 hours southbound, the flight is Air New Zealand’s longest, taking over from Auckland–Houston which has a flight time of 13.5 hours.

Air New Zealand Chief Executive Officer Christopher Luxon, who travelled on the inaugural flight, says the airline’s new Auckland–Chicago service means exciting new opportunities for travelers to explore the United States’ third-largest city, along with more of the East Coast of the US and Canada.

Air New Zealand’s direct Auckland–Chicago service, operated by its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, will depart Auckland on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday as follows:

Photo: Air New Zealand.