Nonstop flight route between Chicago, Illinois, United States and Cape Town, South Africa:
Departure Airport:
(41°58'42"N by 87°54'16"W)
Arrival Airport:
(33°58'9"S by 18°35'49"E)
Distance from ORD to CPT:
8,518.36 miles (13,708.94 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- ORD Airport Information
- CPT Airport Information
- Facts about ORD
- Facts about CPT
- Map of Nearest Airports to ORD
- List of Nearest Airports to ORD
- Map of Furthest Airports from ORD
- List of Furthest Airports from ORD
- Map of Nearest Airports to CPT
- List of Nearest Airports to CPT
- Map of Furthest Airports from CPT
- List of Furthest Airports from CPT
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), Chicago, Illinois, United States and Cape Town International Airport (CPT), Cape Town, South Africa would travel a Great Circle distance of 8,518 miles (or 13,709 kilometers).
A Great Circle is the shortest distance between 2 points on a sphere. Because most world maps are flat (but the Earth is round), the route of the shortest distance between 2 points on the Earth will often appear curved when viewed on a flat map, especially for long distances. If you were to simply draw a straight line on a flat map and measure a very long distance, it would likely be much further than if you were to lay a string between those two points on a globe. Because of the large distance between Chicago O'Hare International Airport and Cape Town International Airport, the route shown on this map most likely appears curved because of this reason.
Try it at home! Get a globe and tightly lay a string between Chicago O'Hare International Airport and Cape Town International Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | ORD / KORD |
| Airport Name: | Chicago O'Hare International Airport |
| Location: | Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 41°58'42"N by 87°54'16"W |
| Area Served: | Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Operator/Owner: | City of Chicago |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 668 feet (204 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 8 |
| View all routes: | Routes from ORD |
| More Information: | ORD Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | CPT / FACT |
| Airport Name: | Cape Town International Airport |
| Location: | Cape Town, South Africa |
| GPS Coordinates: | 33°58'9"S by 18°35'49"E |
| Area Served: | Cape Town |
| Operator/Owner: | Airports Company South Africa |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 151 feet (46 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from CPT |
| More Information: | CPT Maps & Info |
Facts about Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD):
- Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) has 8 runways.
- United and American both established nationwide hubs at the airport in the 1980s, which continue to operate today.
- Chicago O'Hare International Airport, also known as O'Hare Airport, O'Hare Field, Chicago International Airport, or simply O'Hare, is a major airport located in the northwestern-most corner of Chicago, Illinois, 17 miles northwest of the Chicago Loop.
- The 1993 Base Realignment and Closure Commission recommended the closure of O'Hare Air Reserve Station as proposed by the municipal government of the City of Chicago and the transfer of both the Illinois Air National Guard's 126th Air Refueling Wing and its KC-135 aircraft, and the Air Force Reserve Command's 928th Airlift Wing and its C-130 aircraft to new facilities to be constructed at Scott AFB, Illinois.
- In 1953, while traveling to an airshow at Naval Air Station Glenview in Chicago, Illinois, Blue Angels pilot LT Harding MacKnight experienced an engine flameout in his F7U Cutlass, forcing him to make an emergency landing at NAS Glenview.
- Because of Chicago O'Hare International Airport's relatively low elevation of 668 feet, planes can take off or land at Chicago O'Hare International Airport at a lower air speed than at airports located at a higher elevation. This is because the air density is higher closer to sea level than it would otherwise be at higher elevations.
- The original Douglas Aircraft C-54 Skymaster transport manufacturing plant on the northeast side of the airport became a United States Air Force Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve facility after World War II.
- The closest airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) is Chicago Executive Airport (PWK), which is located only 9 miles (15 kilometers) N of ORD.
- The furthest airport from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 11,071 miles (17,817 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
Facts about Cape Town International Airport (CPT):
- Cape Town International Airport is approximately 20 kilometres from the city centre and is accessible from the N2 freeway, with Airport Approach Road providing a direct link between the N2 and the airport.
- There is no direct rail access to Cape Town International Airport.
- Because of Cape Town International Airport's relatively low elevation of 151 feet, planes can take off or land at Cape Town International Airport at a lower air speed than at airports located at a higher elevation. This is because the air density is higher closer to sea level than it would otherwise be at higher elevations.
- Cape Town International Airport (CPT) has 2 runways.
- Cape Town International Airport handled 8,505,563 passengers last year.
- The furthest airport from Cape Town International Airport (CPT) is Princeville Airport (HPV), which is located 11,616 miles (18,693 kilometers) away in Hanalei, Hawaii, United States.
- The terminal contains 10 air bridges, evenly split between domestic and international usage.
- The closest airport to Cape Town International Airport (CPT) is George Airport (GRJ), which is located 217 miles (349 kilometers) E of CPT.
- Cape Town International Airport was opened in 1954, a year after Jan Smuts Airport on the Witwatersrand opened.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 9.37 miles (15.08 km) N | Chicago Executive Airport (PWK) | Chicago/Prospect Heights/Wheeling, Illinois, United States |     |
| 2 | 15.43 miles (24.84 km) SSE | Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) | Chicago, Illinois, United States | |
| 3 | 18.34 miles (29.52 km) WSW | DuPage Airport (DPA) | West Chicago, Illinois, United States | |
| 4 | 27.49 miles (44.24 km) SSW | Lewis University Airport (LOT) | Chicago / Romeoville, Illinois, United States | |
| 5 | 30.71 miles (49.42 km) N | Waukegan National Airport (UGN) | Chicago / Waukegan, Illinois, United States | |
| 6 | 32.66 miles (52.55 km) WSW | Chicago/Aurora Municipal Airport (AUZ) | Aurora, Illinois, United States | |
| 7 | 34.77 miles (55.95 km) SSW | Joliet Regional Airport (JOT) | Joliet, Illinois, United States | |
| 8 | 35.62 miles (57.32 km) SE | Gary/Chicago International Airport (GYY) | Gary, Indiana (near Chicago), United States | |
| 9 | 42.64 miles (68.63 km) N | Kenosha Regional Airport (ENW) | Kenosha, Wisconsin, United States | |
| 10 | 54.22 miles (87.26 km) N | John H. Batten Airport (RAC) | Racine, Wisconsin, United States | |
| 11 | 58.80 miles (94.62 km) SE | Porter County Regional Airport (VPZ) | Valparaiso, Indiana, United States | |
| 12 | 58.93 miles (94.84 km) ESE | Michigan City Municipal Airport (MGC) | Michigan City, Indiana, United States | |
| 13 | 62.76 miles (100.99 km) S | Greater Kankakee Airport (IKK) | Kankakee, Illinois, United States | |
| 14 | 62.95 miles (101.31 km) WNW | Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD) | Rockford, Illinois, United States | |
| 15 | 66.51 miles (107.04 km) ESE | La Porte Municipal Airport (LPO) | La Porte, Indiana, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,071.27 miles (17,817.44 km) WSW | Margaret River Airport (MGV) | Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 2 | 11,047.86 miles (17,779.76 km) WSW | Busselton Regional Airport (BQB) | Busselton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 3 | 11,031.37 miles (17,753.23 km) WSW | Manjimup Airport (MJP) | Manjimup, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 4 | 11,023.12 miles (17,739.96 km) WSW | Bunbury Airport (BUY) | Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 5 | 10,977.81 miles (17,667.03 km) WSW | Rottnest Airport (RTS) | Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 6 | 10,969.87 miles (17,654.25 km) W | Albany Airport (ALH) | Albany, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 7 | 10,964.92 miles (17,646.28 km) WSW | Jandakot Airport (JAD) | Jandakot, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 8 | 10,954.62 miles (17,629.71 km) WSW | Perth Airport (PER) | Perth, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 9 | 10,936.61 miles (17,600.72 km) WSW | Katanning Airport (KNI) | Katanning, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 10 | 10,930.34 miles (17,590.63 km) WSW | Jurien Bay Airport (JUR) | Jurien Bay, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 11 | 10,878.99 miles (17,508.00 km) WSW | Geraldton Airport (GET) | Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 12 | 10,846.89 miles (17,456.33 km) WSW | Kalbarri Airport (KAX) | Kalbarri, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 13 | 10,837.23 miles (17,440.79 km) WSW | Morawa Airport (MWB) | Morawa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 14 | 10,827.50 miles (17,425.13 km) WSW | Mullewa Airport (MXU) | Mullewa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 15 | 10,786.85 miles (17,359.71 km) SW | Shark Bay Airport (MJK) | Monkey Mia, Western Australia, Australia | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 216.76 miles (348.84 km) E | George Airport (GRJ) | George, South Africa | |
| 2 | 309.01 miles (497.30 km) NNW | Kleinsee Airport (KLZ) | Kleinzee, South Africa | |
| 3 | 324.14 miles (521.66 km) N | Aggeneys Airport (AGZ) | Aggeneys, South Africa | |
| 4 | 324.14 miles (521.66 km) N | Wild Coast Sun Airport (MZF) | Mzamba, South Africa | |
| 5 | 392.20 miles (631.19 km) NNW | Alexander Bay Airport (ALJ) | Alexander Bay, South Africa | |
| 6 | 401.75 miles (646.55 km) E | Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ) | Port Elizabeth, South Africa | |
| 7 | 410.22 miles (660.19 km) N | Karasburg Airport (KAS) | Karasburg, Namibia | |
| 8 | 415.63 miles (668.89 km) NNE | Upington Airport (UTN) | Upington, South Africa | |
| 9 | 476.49 miles (766.83 km) E | Port Alfred Airport (AFD) | Port Alfred, South Africa | |
| 10 | 509.47 miles (819.90 km) NE | Kimberley Airport (KIM) | Kimberley, South Africa | |
| 11 | 514.16 miles (827.46 km) N | Keetmanshoop Airport (KMP) | Keetmanshoop, Namibia | |
| 12 | 532.99 miles (857.76 km) NNE | Johan Pienaar Airport (KMH) | Kuruman, South Africa | |
| 13 | 535.17 miles (861.26 km) E | East London Airport (ELS) | East London, South Africa | |
| 14 | 541.34 miles (871.20 km) NNW | Lüderitz Airport (LUD) | Luderitz, Namibia | |
| 15 | 564.91 miles (909.13 km) NE | Bloemfontein International Airport (BFN) | Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,615.59 miles (18,693.43 km) N | Princeville Airport (HPV) | Hanalei, Hawaii, United States | |
| 2 | 11,605.52 miles (18,677.23 km) N | PMRF Barking Sands (BKH) | Kekaha, Hawaii, United States | |
| 3 | 11,598.69 miles (18,666.23 km) N | Lihue Airport (LIH) | Lihue, Hawaii, United States | |
| 4 | 11,595.51 miles (18,661.13 km) N | Port Allen Airport (PAK) | Hanapepe, Hawaii, United States | |
| 5 | 11,558.75 miles (18,601.95 km) NNW | Dillingham Airfield (HDH) | Mokuleia, Hawaii, United States | |
| 6 | 11,550.18 miles (18,588.17 km) NNW | Wheeler AAF (HHI) | Wahiawa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 7 | 11,538.63 miles (18,569.58 km) NNW | Kalaeloa Airport (NAX) | Kapolei, Hawaii, United States | |
| 8 | 11,537.32 miles (18,567.47 km) NNW | Honolulu International Airport (HNL) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 9 | 11,537.32 miles (18,567.47 km) NNW | Hickam Field (HIK) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 10 | 11,514.81 miles (18,531.24 km) NNW | Kalaupapa Airport (LUP) | Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 11 | 11,513.09 miles (18,528.48 km) NNW | Molokai Airport (MKK) | Kaunakakai, Hawaii, United States | |
| 12 | 11,492.88 miles (18,495.95 km) NNW | Kapalua Airport (JHM) | Lahaina, Hawaii, United States | |
| 13 | 11,486.14 miles (18,485.10 km) NNW | Lanai Airport (LNY) | Lanai City, Hawaii, United States | |
| 14 | 11,484.00 miles (18,481.66 km) NNW | Kahului Airport (OGG) | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | |
| 15 | 11,468.86 miles (18,457.29 km) NNW | Hana Airport (HNM) | Hana, Hawaii, United States | |