Nonstop flight route between Chicago, Illinois, United States and Nairobi, Kenya:
Departure Airport:
(41°58'42"N by 87°54'16"W)
Arrival Airport:
(1°19'6"S by 36°55'32"E)
Distance from ORD to NBO:
8,021.43 miles (12,909.21 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- ORD Airport Information
- NBO Airport Information
- Facts about ORD
- Facts about NBO
- 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 NBO
- List of Nearest Airports to NBO
- Map of Furthest Airports from NBO
- List of Furthest Airports from NBO
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), Chicago, Illinois, United States and Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO), Nairobi, Kenya would travel a Great Circle distance of 8,021 miles (or 12,909 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 Jomo Kenyatta 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 Jomo Kenyatta 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: | NBO / HKJK |
| Airport Name: | Jomo Kenyatta International Airport |
| Location: | Nairobi, Kenya |
| GPS Coordinates: | 1°19'6"S by 36°55'32"E |
| Area Served: | Nairobi |
| Operator/Owner: | Kenya Airports Authority |
| Airport Type: | Joint (Civil and Military) |
| Elevation: | 5327 feet (1,624 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from NBO |
| More Information: | NBO Maps & Info |
Facts about Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD):
- 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.
- United and American both established nationwide hubs at the airport in the 1980s, which continue to operate today.
- By the early 1950s, Chicago Midway International Airport, Chicago's primary airport since 1931, had become too crowded despite multiple expansions and could not handle the planned first generation of jets.
- O'Hare has four numbered passenger terminals with nine lettered concourses and a total of 182 aircraft gates.
- 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.
- 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.
- Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) has 8 runways.
Facts about Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO):
- The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority has its head office in the KAA Complex on the airport property.African Express Airways has its head office on the airport property.
- The closest airport to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) is Wilson Airport (WIL), which is located only 8 miles (12 kilometers) W of NBO.
- The original terminal, located on the north side of the runway, is used by the Kenya Air Force and is sometimes referred as Old Embakasi Airport.
- Because of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport's high elevation of 5,327 feet, planes must typically fly at a faster airspeed in order to takeoff or land at NBO. Combined with a high temperature, this could make NBO a "Hot & High" airport, where the air density is lower than it would otherwise be at sea level.
- The airport served 5,803,635 passengers in 2011, making it the ninth-busiest airport in Africa by total passengers.
- On 7 August 2013, a fire originating in the immigration area caused massive damage to the airport and forced it to suspend operations temporarily.
- In November 2012, KAA announced that Units 1, 2, and 3 would be renovated at a cost of 7.9 billion Kenyan shillings.
- Jomo Kenyatta International Airport handled 580,363 passengers last year.
- The furthest airport from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) is Atuona Airport (AUQ), which is located 11,621 miles (18,703 kilometers) away in Atuona, Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia.
- Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) currently has only 1 runway.
| 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 | 7.66 miles (12.32 km) W | Wilson Airport (WIL) | Nairobi, Kenya | |
| 2 | 87.25 miles (140.42 km) N | Nanyuki Airfield (NYK) | Nanyuki, Kenya | |
| 3 | 94.15 miles (151.52 km) SSE | Amboseli Airport (ASV) | Amboseli, Kenya | |
| 4 | 132.47 miles (213.19 km) W | Mara Serena Airport (MRE) | Masai Mara, Kenya | |
| 5 | 132.83 miles (213.78 km) WNW | Kericho Airport (KEY) | Kericho, Kenya | |
| 6 | 134.99 miles (217.24 km) SE | Kilaguni Airport (ILU) | Kilaguni, Kenya | |
| 7 | 142.85 miles (229.89 km) NW | Kimwarer Airport (KRV) | Kerio Valley, Kenya | |
| 8 | 143.05 miles (230.22 km) S | Arusha Airport (ARK) | Arusha, Tanzania | |
| 9 | 143.91 miles (231.60 km) S | Moshi Airport (QSI) | Moshi, Tanzania | |
| 10 | 146.20 miles (235.29 km) S | Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) | Kilimanjaro, Tanzania | |
| 11 | 161.40 miles (259.74 km) SSW | Lake Manyara Airport (LKY) | Lake Manyara, Tanzania | |
| 12 | 166.60 miles (268.12 km) NW | Eldoret International Airport (EDL) | Eldoret, Kenya | |
| 13 | 174.04 miles (280.08 km) WNW | Kisumu International Airport (KIS) | Kisumu, Kenya | |
| 14 | 197.11 miles (317.22 km) ENE | Garissa Airport (GAS) | Garissa, Kenya | |
| 15 | 208.71 miles (335.88 km) NW | Kitale Airport (KTL) | Kitale, Kenya | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,621.39 miles (18,702.76 km) SSW | Atuona Airport (AUQ) | Atuona, Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 2 | 11,449.79 miles (18,426.61 km) E | Cassidy International Airport (CXI) | Christmas Island, Kiribati | |
| 3 | 11,329.02 miles (18,232.24 km) S | Manihi Airport (XMH) | Manihi, French Polynesia | |
| 4 | 11,327.23 miles (18,229.37 km) S | Ahe Airport (AHE) | Ahe, French Polynesia | |
| 5 | 11,266.90 miles (18,132.27 km) SSE | Arutua Airport (AXR) | Arutua, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 6 | 11,253.73 miles (18,111.08 km) SSE | Mataiva Airport (MVT) | Mataiva, French Polynesia | |
| 7 | 11,247.65 miles (18,101.29 km) S | Apataki Airport (APK) | Apataki, French Polynesia | |
| 8 | 11,243.28 miles (18,094.25 km) S | Fangatau Airport (FGU) | Fangatau, French Polynesia | |
| 9 | 11,236.26 miles (18,082.97 km) S | Raroia Airport (RRR) | Raroia, French Polynesia | |
| 10 | 11,223.58 miles (18,062.56 km) S | Fakarava Airport (FAV) | Fakarava, Society Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 11 | 11,198.94 miles (18,022.90 km) S | Makemo Airport (MKP) | Makemo, French Polynesia | |
| 12 | 11,136.36 miles (17,922.19 km) S | Anaa Airport (AAA) | Anaa, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 13 | 11,089.05 miles (17,846.06 km) S | Hao Airport (HOI) | Hao, Tuamotu Island, French Polynesia | |
| 14 | 11,079.85 miles (17,831.25 km) SSE | Huahine – Fare Airport (HUH) | Huahine, Society Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 15 | 11,074.28 miles (17,822.28 km) SSE | Bora Bora Airport (BOB) | Bora Bora, French Polynesia | |