A Major Airline Is The First In The US To Offer Direct Flights From Chicago To Madrid

Warm-weather enthusiasts and tapas connoisseurs, rejoice! American Airlines has officially launched its first-ever direct service from Chicago O'Hare to Madrid. On March 30, 2025, the legacy airline became the first U.S. carrier to connect these two major cities on a non-stop route. Covering roughly 4,200 miles aboard a Boeing 787-8 aircraft — which can seat up to 234 passengers — the trip takes around 8.5 hours to complete and lands you right in the heart of one of Europe's most vibrant capitals.

Although Iberia — known as one of the best airlines in Europe — has been operating the same route for years, American's decision to offer their own flights means the service will now be available for transatlantic travelers twice a day, which hasn't happened since 2016. Itinerary-wise, American's flight from Chicago O'Hare departs at 10:10 p.m. local time (arriving at 1:25 p.m. CET the next day), and with a 4:40 p.m. CET return scheduled from Madrid.

Along with expanding the options for eager travelers, this new route also joins five other American Airlines services that currently fly direct from a major U.S. airport into Madrid. Specifically, this network includes daily non-stop flights from Charlotte, Dallas/Fort Worth, Miami, New York (JFK), and Philadelphia. Better yet, the launch comes just in time for a perfect summer getaway — and to treat your inner foodie to a world-class food tour right in the Spanish capital.

American's new route from Chicago to Madrid brings the airline's European destination count to a total of eight flights directly from O'Hare into the European continent. That said, not all of these options are available at all times. For summer travelers, American Airlines' direct routes to Athens, Barcelona, Dublin, Naples (coming in May 2025), Paris, and Rome — operated aboard a Boeing 787-8 aircraft — are a convenient way to reach these popular destinations. Meanwhile, their year-round London Heathrow service (operated by a larger 787-9 aircraft) increases from twice a day in the winter to triple daily during summer in order to meet the high demand.

This expansion in service has boosted O'Hare International Airport's position as a strategic travel hub, especially for Midwest-based passengers looking to access even more local and global destinations. Ranked as the ninth busiest airport in the world, O'Hare currently offers 983 non-stop domestic flights, as well 117 direct international flights across 63 destinations.

As a result, this growing network has ultimately developed into a long list of seamless connection opportunities for travelers coming in from smaller cities across the United States, allowing them to reach Madrid (and beyond) with just one quick stop in the Windy City. Just make sure you're not arriving into the city over the winter, when O'Hare becomes an absolute nightmare to fly in and out of due to cancellations and delays.