Chicago to London
8h 18m The flight from Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to London Heathrow Airport (LHR) covers 6,349 km (3,945 miles) and takes approximately 8h 18m gate to gate for a typical jet.
The route heads north-east on an initial great-circle bearing of 48°, passing near 55.5° N, 49.0° W at its midpoint.
The route
The great-circle path — the shortest line between the two airports across the curve of the earth. On a flat map it looks bent; on a globe it is straight.
Flight time at different cruise speeds
Aircraft type, winds and routing all move the real number. This is the same distance flown at different speeds, plus the 25-minute ground and climb allowance.
| Typical of | Cruise speed | Airborne | Gate to gate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turboprop / regional | 550 km/h | 11h 33m | 11h 58m |
| Narrowbody jet (A320, 737) | 780 km/h | 8h 08m | 8h 34m |
| Widebody jet (777, 787, A350) | 900 km/h | 7h 03m | 7h 28m |
| Private jet (Gulfstream) | 850 km/h | 7h 28m | 7h 53m |
Headwinds on an eastbound long-haul routinely add 30–60 minutes; the same route westbound can be quicker. Airlines publish schedules with padding built in.
Both airports
| MDW | LHR | |
|---|---|---|
| Airport | Chicago Midway International Airport | London Heathrow Airport |
| City | Chicago | London |
| Country | United States | United Kingdom |
| ICAO | KMDW | EGLL |
| Coordinates | 41.786, -87.7524 | 51.4707, -0.4599 |
| Elevation | 620 ft | 83 ft |
Questions
How long is the flight from Chicago to London?
A non-stop flight from Chicago (MDW) to London (LHR) takes about 8h 18m. The great-circle distance is 6,349 km (3,945 miles, 3,428 nautical miles), flying north-east on an initial bearing of 48°.
How far is Chicago from London?
6,349 kilometres in a straight line over the earth's surface — 3,945 miles or 3,428 nautical miles. Actual flown distance is usually 2–5% longer because aircraft follow airways, avoid weather and route around restricted airspace.
Is there a non-stop flight between MDW and LHR?
This page calculates the direct-line time and distance; it does not track airline schedules. At 6,349 km the route is comfortably within range of a non-stop service if an airline chooses to fly it. Check an airline or booking site for what is actually scheduled.
What should I expect on a 8h 18m flight?
Anything past six hours is a long-haul flight: expect at least one meal service, a significant time-zone shift, and enough sitting that circulation and hydration start to matter. Cabin altitude, dry air and disrupted sleep do more damage to a training routine than the flight itself.
Airport coordinates from OurAirports (public domain). Distance is a great-circle calculation; flight time uses the model described on the method page. Flight times are great-circle estimates for planning only — always check the airline's published schedule.