Flight time: Panama City to Chicago
Tocumen International Airport (PTY) → O'Hare International Airport (ORD) · medium haul · north america south america
The flight from Panama City (PTY) to Chicago (ORD) takes approximately 4h 55m to 5h 39m gate-to-gate, covering 3,753 km (2,332 mi). This medium-haul north america south america route uses a cruise speed of 780–850 km/h with 30–50 minutes of ground and air overhead.
- Route:
- Panama City (PTY) → Chicago (ORD)
- Distance:
- 3,753 km (2,332 mi)
- Flight time:
- 4h 55m to 5h 39m gate-to-gate
- Route type:
- medium-haul, north america south america
- Cruise speed:
- 780–850 km/h
- Ground overhead:
- 30–50 minutes included
- Over water:
- No — continental
- Origin:
- Tocumen International Airport, Panama (America/Panama)
- Destination:
- O'Hare International Airport, United States (America/Chicago)
Route details
| Origin | Panama City, Panama (PTY) |
| Destination | Chicago, United States (ORD) |
| Distance | 3,753 km (2,332 mi) |
| Flight time (low) | 4h 55m |
| Flight time (high) | 5h 39m |
| Route type | medium-haul, north america south america |
| Cruise speed | 780–850 km/h |
| Ground overhead | 30–50 minutes |
| Over water | No — continental routing |
| Time difference | -1h (westbound) |
Distance breakdown: Panama City to Chicago
The 3,753-km great-circle distance between Panama City (9.07°N, 79.38°W) and Chicago (41.97°N, 87.91°W) spans 32.9° of latitude and 8.5° of longitude, trending primarily west. In miles, this is 2,332 mi or 2027 nautical miles. The great-circle path — the shortest distance over Earth's curved surface — is calculated using the Haversine formula from the two airports' precise coordinates.
Cruise speed and flight phases
At 3,753 km, this medium-haul route falls in the operational sweet spot where aircraft reach cruise altitude for a meaningful portion of the flight. Effective cruise speeds of 780–850 km/h are typical, with narrow-body aircraft (A320neo, 737 MAX) handling the lower end and wide-body aircraft achieving speeds at the upper end. The 4h 55m to 5h 39m estimate accounts for approximately 20 minutes of combined climb and descent, with the remainder at efficient cruise altitude.
Ground time and routing overhead
Our 30–50 minutes overhead allowance covers: taxi-out at PTY, takeoff and initial climb, descent and approach at ORD, and taxi-in to the gate. Taxi times at PTY are typically 5–15 minutes depending on traffic. At ORD, arrival taxi and gate assignment can add 10–20 minutes, especially during busy arrival banks. Continental air traffic corridors between Panama City and Chicago may add 3–8% beyond the great-circle distance. Standard instrument departures and arrivals at both airports use predefined routing that adds distance but ensures safe separation.
Return flight: Chicago → Panama City
The return flight from Chicago to Panama City is generally similar in duration to the outbound — typically within 10–20 minutes. Continental routes like this one are less affected by the jet stream asymmetry that makes oceanic east-west routes so uneven. The main variables affecting any difference are: prevailing winds at these latitudes (modest effect), different standard instrument departures/arrivals at each airport (minor effect), and air traffic congestion patterns that vary by time of day and direction.
Seasonal variation in flight times
Flight times between Panama City and Chicago vary modestly by season — typically 10–20 minutes. Upper-level wind patterns shift with the seasons: winter generally brings stronger westerly winds at these latitudes, while summer patterns are more variable. Thunderstorm activity along the route corridor peaks in summer months, occasionally causing routing diversions that add distance. Winter operations may include de-icing delays at PTY and ORD, which extend the overall gate-to-gate time.
Airport information
Tocumen International Airport (PTY) serves Panama City, Panama as a significant international airport. Flight frequency is good on major routes, with moderate taxi times. O'Hare International Airport (ORD) is a major international hub in Chicago, United States. As a tier-1 airport, it handles high traffic volumes, which means longer average taxi times but also higher flight frequency and competition that can benefit travelers on pricing.