Romanian airline HiSky will launch direct flights between Bucharest and Chicago starting June 4, 2026, marking the carrier’s second transatlantic service after New York. The route will operate twice weekly, on Thursdays and Sundays, restoring nonstop air service between Romania and Chicago for the first time in 24 years.
HiSky will become the only airline to operate both U.S. routes from Romania, positioning itself as a key Eastern European player in long-haul travel. CEO Iulian Scorpan highlighted Chicago’s importance as a destination for business, tourism, and Romania’s large diaspora community, noting that “an entire generation has lacked the chance to maintain this direct link with the homeland.”
The flights will be integrated into HiSky’s network, enabling convenient connections from cities across Romania, Moldova, and Tel Aviv. Passengers will benefit from through-ticketing and baggage transfer, with total travel times from regional cities not exceeding 13 hours. The journey from Bucharest to Chicago will take 10 hours 50 minutes, while the return will be 9 hours 50 minutes.
Founded in 2021, HiSky is Romania’s second-largest airline by passenger numbers, with a fleet of eight Airbus aircraft serving destinations across Europe, the Middle East, North America, and beyond. The Chicago launch follows the success of its Bucharest–New York route, introduced in 2024 after a two-decade gap in nonstop U.S. services from Romania.