Flight Path from Chicago to Dublin: Great Circle Route

The great-circle route from **Chicago O'Hare (ORD)** to **Dublin (DUB)** covers **~3,925 miles (6,317 km)** with a flight time of **~7h 30m–8h 30m** eastbound (shorter westbound due to jet stream).

Typical Route (Eastbound)

1. Depart ORD → Great Lakes
2. Enter Canada: Southern Ontario → Quebec (cross near Montréal)
3. Atlantic Crossing: Newfoundland → **North Atlantic Tracks (NAT)** — daily organized tracks (e.g., Track A–Z) optimized for winds.
4. Greenland: Often fly near/over southern tip (Cape Farewell) — not typically over Kulusuk (east coast).
5. Iceland: South of Reykjavík (Keflavík is a common diversion/ETOPS alternate).
6. Ireland: Enter Irish airspace (Shannon ACC) → Descend into DUB.

Key Waypoints / FIRs

• Chicago Center (ZAU) → Minneapolis (ZMP) → Winnipeg (CZWG) → Gander (CZQX) → Shanwick (EGGX) → Shannon (EISN) → Dublin (EIDW).

Why Not the Sample Route (ORD→YUL→SNN→DUB)?

Montréal (YUL) is **south** of the great circle. Shannon (SNN) is a **waypoint/FIR boundary**, not a stop. Modern flights fly **direct ORD→DUB** nonstop (Aer Lingus, United, American). The "route via Montréal/Shannon" describes **ATC sectors**, not a landing.

Westbound (DUB→ORD)

Longer (~8h 30m–9h 30m) due to **headwinds** (jet stream). Often routes **north of great circle** (over Greenland/Iceland) to find favorable winds.

**Aircraft:** B787, A350, B777 (ETOPS 180/330). **Altitude:** FL350–FL400.