Air New Zealand’s inaugural flight between Auckland and Chicago landed at O’Hare International Airport last Friday afternoon.

Flight NZ26 departed at 5:01PM local time in Auckland and landed in Chicago at 12:11 PM local time in Chicago. With a flight time of approximately 15 hours northbound and just over 16 hours southbound, the flight is Air New Zealand’s longest, taking over from Auckland–Houston which has a flight time of 13.5 hours.

Air New Zealand Chief Executive Officer Christopher Luxon, who travelled on the inaugural flight, says the airline’s new Auckland–Chicago service means exciting new opportunities for travelers to explore the United States’ third-largest city, along with more of the East Coast of the US and Canada.

Air New Zealand’s direct Auckland–Chicago service, operated by its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, will depart Auckland on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday as follows:

Flight No. Operated by Aircraft type Departs Arrives Effective dates Frequency NZ26

(UA6728) Air New

Zealand Boeing 787-9

Dreamliner Auckland

20:10 Chicago 16:15 2 Dec 2018 – 8 Mar 2019 Wed, Fri,

Sun NZ26

(UA6728) Air New

Zealand Boeing 787-9

Dreamliner Auckland 20:10 Chicago 17:15 10 Mar 2019 –

29 Mar 2019 Wed, Fri,

Sun NZ27 (UA6727) Air New

Zealand Boeing 787-9

Dreamliner Chicago 19:10 Auckland 06:30+2 30 Nov 2018 – 8 Mar 2019 Wed, Fri,

Sun NZ27 (UA6727) Air New

Zealand Boeing 787-9

Dreamliner Chicago 20:10 Auckland 06:30+2 10 Mar 2019 –

29 Mar 2019 Wed, Fri,

Sun

Photo: Air New Zealand.