Beginning Nov. 1, Denver Air Connection’s morning flight from Dubuque to O’Hare International Airport in Chicago will depart at 7:15 a.m. The flight will arrive at O’Hare at 8:20 a.m. Currently, the flight leaves Dubuque at 7:50 a.m. and arrives in Chicago at 8:55 a.m.

The change will offer even more available connections for travelers once they arrive at O’Hare. It will increase the number of potential connecting flights within four hours to more than 200, with more flights arriving at many destinations by early afternoon.

“While moving the morning flight up by 35 minutes may seem like a minor change, this is a significant improvement,” said Dubuque Mayor and DBQ Air Board Chairman Brad Cavanagh. “It responds to requests from business travelers, in particular, and it offers all travelers even more connecting flights and earlier arrivals to destinations beyond O’Hare. We’re very pleased Denver Air could make this change.”

“We welcome this change,” said Dubuque Regional Airport Director Todd Dalsing. “From an operations standpoint, an even earlier arrival to O’Hare is preferred. This gives our passengers additional time to make their connections and reach their destination sooner.”

The Denver Air Connection flights between Dubuque and O’Hare began in November 2024. In response to customer feedback, Denver Air shifted its schedule to a morning departure and evening arrival structure in May 2025. Customer reaction to the change has been overwhelmingly positive, with 97% of respondents to a traveler survey rating their experience at the Dubuque Regional Airport as excellent or good.

Denver Air Connection has interline agreements with American and United , which allow travelers to book, check bags and seamlessly connect to those airlines’ networks of destinations on a single booking.

For trips connecting beyond O’Hare/Chicago, bookings can be made directly through American or United, or through a preferred online travel retailer (such as Google Flights, Kayak, Expedia, Priceline, etc.). Passengers not flying beyond Chicago can book directly through Denver Air Connection. Booking links can be found on the Dubuque Regional Airport website: www.FlyDBQ.com