Air Freight from Beijing Capital (PEK) to Chicago O'Hare (ORD)
Beijing Capital International Airport offers one of the widest choices of direct departures to Chicago O'Hare of any Chinese gateway, plus a large domestic catchment that feeds freight north for the trans-Pacific sector.
Air freight rates: Beijing to Chicago O'Hare
Per-kilogram reference levels from the carriers' published tariffs, in CNY per kg against chargeable weight. Density ratios are shown where the carrier prices heavy freight separately.
| Carrier | Routing | T/T (days) | Cargo type | +45 kg | +100 kg | +300 kg | +500 kg | +1,000 kg | Valid from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AA | PEK – ORD / DFW – ORD | 4–5 | General | 50.80 | 35.80 | 32.80 | 30.10 | 28.80 | 2026-10-01 |
| AC | PEK – YVR / YYZ – ORD | 3–4 | General | 38.80 | 31.80 | 24.80 | 20.60 | 20.30 | 2026-10-31 |
| HU | PEK – ORD | 1 | General | 26.50 | 18.50 | 17.00 | 14.00 | 13.50 | 2026-10-21 |
| HU | PEK – ORD | 1 | Heavy, 1:300 | – | – | – | 12.00 | 11.50 | 2026-10-21 |
| HU | PEK – ORD | 1 | Heavy, 1:500 | – | – | – | 12.00 | 11.50 | 2026-10-21 |
| JL | PEK – NRT – ORD | 1–2 | General | 35.80 | – | – | – | – | 2026-10-20 |
| JL | PEK – NRT – ORD | 1–2 | Heavy, 1:300 | 35.80 | 25.80 | 23.80 | 22.60 | 21.30 | 2026-10-20 |
| JL | PEK – NRT – ORD | 1–2 | Heavy, 1:500 | 35.80 | 24.80 | 22.80 | 21.60 | 20.30 | 2026-10-20 |
| JL | PEK – NRT – ORD | 1–2 | Heavy, 1:1000 | 35.80 | 24.80 | 22.80 | 21.60 | 20.30 | 2026-10-20 |
| OZ | PEK – GMP – ORD | 3–4 | General | 34.30 | 24.80 | 24.80 | 24.80 | 24.80 | 2026-10-21 |
| UA | PEK – ORD | 1 | General | 46.80 | 28.80 | 27.80 | – | – | 2026-10-01 |
Rates exclude fuel, security and local handling surcharges. Density notation such as 1:300 means the rate applies where the shipment's volume-to-weight ratio is at least 1 CBM per 300 kg.
Why Beijing has more direct capacity to Chicago
Beijing offers a comparatively wide choice of nonstop departures to O'Hare, including HU Hainan Airlines and UA United Airlines. Because a large share of China's US-bound air cargo funnels through Beijing for the trans-Pacific sector, the carriers keep a meaningful allocation for locally tendered freight rather than selling the whole aircraft to connecting traffic.
Where Beijing cargo comes from
Freight tendered at Beijing Capital originates with Beijing companies and with the surrounding northern catchment — Tianjin, Shenyang, Harbin, Shandong, Yantai and Inner Mongolia. A meaningful volume is also trucked in from Shanghai: domestic trucking between Chinese gateways is fast and cheap, and moving freight by road to Beijing for a direct trans-Pacific departure is often cheaper than flying it out of the origin airport.
Beijing Capital is a good value choice for freight that is not urgent: the direct capacity is genuine, the per-kilo rate on the heavier weight breaks is competitive, and the northern catchment keeps the airport busy year-round.
Japan Airlines via Narita — one stop, one to two days
JL Japan Airlines builds its Chicago rotation through Tokyo Narita (NRT), so a PEK–ORD consignment makes a single intermediate stop and lands one to two days after uplift. Because the carrier prices general cargo and heavy-density freight on separate scales, dense freight such as machinery parts and metal goods can move at a materially lower per-kilo rate than the general tariff — check the density ratio of your cargo before comparing carriers.
Frequently asked questions
How long does air freight from Beijing to Chicago take?
One day on the Hainan Airlines and United direct departures, and one to two days on Japan Airlines via Tokyo Narita. North American carriers that route through a Canadian or US hub typically take three to five days.
How much is air freight from Beijing to Chicago per kilogram?
On the reference tariff levels above, the +300 kg break has historically ranged from roughly 17 CNY per kg on the Hainan direct freighter to the low thirties on North American carriers, with heavy-density cargo priced separately at a lower rate. Fuel and security surcharges are additional and the live market moves weekly.
What does a density ratio such as 1:300 mean on an air freight rate sheet?
It describes the volume-to-weight ratio the rate applies to: 1:300 means one cubic metre per 300 kg. Cargo denser than that ratio is charged on the gross weight at the heavy rate, which is usually significantly cheaper per kilogram than the general tariff.
Is Beijing a good origin for air freight to the US Midwest?
Yes, particularly for freight that originates in northern China — Tianjin, Hebei, Shandong, Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang and Inner Mongolia. Direct departures are frequent and the per-kilo rate on the heavier breaks is competitive.
Can cargo from Shanghai be flown to Chicago out of Beijing?
Yes. Trucking freight from Shanghai to Beijing Capital takes one to two days by road and is a common way to reach direct trans-Pacific capacity when the Shanghai freighter is full or the Shanghai rate is higher.
Book this China – USA air freight service
Goodhope Freight is a China-based international air freight forwarder and NVOCC (license GD20230925153335) moving air cargo from every major Chinese gateway to the United States since 2012. Send your commodity, gross weight, volume and packing list, plus the US airport or ZIP code, and we will confirm the airline, routing, cut-off and all-in rate: sales007@goodhopefreight.com or WhatsApp / WeChat +86 18938691638.