Cathay Pacific To Resume Nonstop Service Between Hong Kong and Chicago

Updated: September 28, 2023, 11:05am CDT

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Cathay Pacific Returns to Chicago
Final Thoughts

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Chicago will once again have a nonstop service to Hong Kong when Cathay Pacific resumes the route in October 2023.

The Hong Kong-based carrier is finally bringing back the route after it was suspended during the pandemic.

Here are the details of this exciting route resumption.

Cathay Pacific Returns to Chicago

As of October 3, 2023, Cathay Pacific will once again fly nonstop to Chicago. It will reenter the market with 3 weekly flights from its base in Hong Kong.

Chicago joins Boston (BOS), Los Angeles (LAX), New York (JFK), and San Francisco (SFO) as the fifth U.S. city with nonstop Cathay Pacific service to Hong Kong.

The schedule for the 16+ hour flight is as follows:

Depart Chicago (ORD) 4:05 p.m. — Arrive Hong Kong (HKG) 8:45 p.m. (+1)
Depart Hong Kong (HKG) 12:30 p.m. — Arrive Chicago 2:25 p.m.

Flights will operate in both directions on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

Before it was suspended due to the pandemic, the route was operated with a Boeing 777-300 aircraft. When it returns next week, the route will be operated with the airline’s more modern Airbus A350-1000 jet.

There are some drawbacks to this route being served with the A350, however. First, this plane has far fewer premium seats than the 777, and second, it doesn’t have a first class cabin. The A350 has 46 business class seats versus 53 found on the triple-seven.

A business class window seat onboard a Cathay Pacific Airbus A350. Image Credit: Daniel Ross

Elsewhere, there are 32 recliner seats in premium economy and a whopping 256 seats in economy arranged in a 3-3-3 configuration.

The cheapest round-trip economy fares we’re seeing ring in at $1,278. While that might seem far from cheap, it’s actually a pretty good deal for a nonstop flight of about 7,800 miles.

To make the journey in a lie-flat bed, you’re looking at at least $6,600.

Hot Tip:

Curious about flying Cathay Pacific’s A350-1000? Read all about what it was like in this first-hand account.

Final Thoughts

Cathay Pacific’s return to O’Hare International in October is great news for those living in Chicago (and the greater Midwest region) and Hong Kong.

The thrice-weekly service will no doubt be welcome by both business and leisure travelers who have yet another connection to Asia returning.