Midway Airport: Flight Landings And Operations

Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) is a major commercial airport located on the southwest side of Chicago, Illinois. It is one of the busiest airports in the nation, serving over 22 million passengers in 2023. The airport offers a range of facilities for international passengers and is conveniently connected to the city's public transport system. With a rich history dating back to 1927, Midway has been Chicago's primary airport until the opening of O'Hare International Airport in 1944. Today, it remains a significant hub for air travel, with various airlines offering arrivals and departures to destinations worldwide.

Chicago Midway International Airport's location and transport links

Chicago Midway International Airport (IATA: MDW, ICAO: KMDW, FAA LID: MDW) is a major commercial airport located on the southwest side of Chicago, Illinois. It is approximately 12 miles (19 km) from the city's Loop business district. The airport is easily accessible by road, with its address listed as 5700 S Cicero Ave, Chicago, IL 60638.

The airport is also well-connected to Chicago's public transport network. The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) operates the Orange Line "L", a rapid transit service that connects the airport to Downtown Chicago and other subway/elevated rapid transit lines. The Orange Line runs from around 4:00 am to 1:00 am, with trains departing at an average of 8-minute intervals. The journey from Midway to the Loop takes about 25 minutes. During overnight periods when the Orange Line is not operating, passengers can take the N62 Archer bus as an alternative.

In addition to the Orange Line and bus services, Midway Airport also offers a range of ground transportation options, including taxi, ride-sharing, and shuttle services. The airport's official website provides information on getting to and from the airport, including details on public transportation, car rentals, and ride-sharing options.

The airport is named after the Battle of Midway and was established in 1927. It served as Chicago's primary airport until the opening of O'Hare International Airport in 1944. Today, Midway remains one of the busiest airports in the nation and the second-busiest in the Chicago metropolitan area and Illinois state. The airport covers just over one square mile (650 acres or 260 hectares) and has four active runways. The airfield is located in a square mile bounded by 55th and 63rd Streets, and Central and Cicero Avenues.

Airlines that operate at Chicago Midway Airport

Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) is a major commercial airport located on the southwest side of Chicago, Illinois. It is one of the busiest airports in the United States, serving over 22 million passengers in 2023. The airport is a base for Southwest Airlines, which carries over 90% of the airport's passengers.

Throughout its history, Midway Airport has been served by numerous airlines, including:

• Southwest Airlines
• Midway Airlines (defunct)
• Vanguard Airlines (defunct)
• National Airlines
• AirTran Airways
• ATA Airlines (ATA)
• Chicago Express Airlines (ATA Connection)
• United Air Lines
• Delta
• Frontier
• Porter Airlines
• Volaris
• Jetsetters
• Frontier Airlines
• American Airlines
• Air France
• Lufthansa
• REAL (Brazil)
• Universal Air Lines, Inc.
• Grey Goose Airlines
• Stout Air Lines
• United
• American
• TWA
• Northwest
• Eastern
• Braniff
• Pennsylvania Central
• C&S
• Air Canada
• Ozark
• Trans-Canada
• Lake Central
• Chicago Helicopter
• Northwest
• Ozark
• McDonnell Douglas
• BAC One-Eleven
• Boeing
• DC-9
• Convair 580
• AirTran Airways
• National Airlines
• Air Canada
• JetBlue
• Spirit Airlines
• Aer Lingus
• Porter Airlines
• Volaris
• JetBlue Airways
• Spirit
• Aer Lingus

Today, the airport has 43 aircraft gates across three concourses:

• Concourse A has 17 gates.
• Concourse B has 23 gates.
• Concourse C has 3 gates.

The history of Chicago Midway Airport

Chicago Midway International Airport (IATA: MDW, ICAO: KMDW, FAA LID: MDW) is a major commercial airport on the southwest side of Chicago, Illinois. It is located approximately 12 miles (19 km) from the city's Loop business district.

The airport was established in 1927 and served as Chicago's primary airport until 1944 when the O'Hare International Airport opened. Originally named Chicago Air Park, the airport was built on a 320-acre plot in 1923 with a single cinder runway mainly for airmail flights. In 1926, the city leased the airport and named it Chicago Municipal Airport on December 12, 1927. By 1928, the airport had twelve hangars and four runways, which were lit for night operations.

In 1931, a new passenger terminal opened at 62nd St, and the following year, the airport claimed to be the "World's Busiest" with over 100,846 passengers on 60,947 flights. The airport expanded rapidly in the following years, filling the entire square mile by 1941. During World War II, Midway became a hub for international flights, serving as a refuelling stop for the record-breaking 1945 Japan-Washington flight of B-29s.

In July 1949, the airport was renamed Chicago Midway International Airport after the Battle of Midway. That year, the airport served 3.2 million passengers, and passenger numbers peaked at 10 million in 1959. However, with the introduction of larger four-engine jetliners in 1959, Midway faced competition from O'Hare, which had longer runways to accommodate these new aircraft. As a result, Midway saw a decline in passenger traffic, and by 1961, its passenger volume had dropped by 60%.

In the late 1960s, reconstruction efforts began at Midway, adding new concourses and ticket counters. The city also invested $10 million in renovation funds, and major airlines returned to Midway, serving smaller-capacity, short-range twin-jet and trijet airliners. In 1979, Midway Airlines arrived, expanding rapidly in the 1980s and becoming the airport's flagship carrier.

In 1982, the city of Chicago purchased Midway Airport from the Chicago Board of Education, and in 1993, the Chicago Transit Authority opened a new CTA terminal at the airport, connecting it to the Loop via the Orange Line. In the late 1990s, Midway underwent a significant expansion project, including the addition of a new terminal building, a parking garage, and a pedestrian bridge. Despite attempts to privatize the airport in the early 2000s, it remains owned and operated by the city of Chicago.

Today, Midway is one of the busiest airports in the nation and the second-busiest airport in the Chicago metropolitan area and Illinois state, serving over 22 million passengers in 2023. It is a base for Southwest Airlines, which carries over 90% of the airport's passengers.

Accidents and incidents at Chicago Midway Airport

Chicago Midway International Airport has been the site of several aviation accidents and incidents. Here are some notable events:

United Air Lines Flight 553 Crash (1972)

On December 8, 1972, United Air Lines Flight 553, a Boeing 737-200, crashed into a residential area while approaching Midway Airport for landing. The crash killed 43 of the 61 people on board, as well as two individuals on the ground. The cause of the crash was attributed to the captain's failure to manage the flight effectively. This incident marked the first fatal crash involving a Boeing 737, which had been in airline service since 1968.

Southwest Airlines Flight 1248 (2005)

On December 8, 2005, 33 years after the United Airlines Flight 553 crash, Southwest Airlines Flight 1248 slid off the runway during landing at Midway Airport in a heavy snowstorm. The aircraft collided with automobile traffic, killing a 6-year-old boy and injuring several others. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined that the probable cause was the pilots' failure to use reverse thrust promptly to decelerate, resulting in a runway overrun. This incident marked the first fatality in Southwest Airlines' 35-year history.

Other Incidents

Midway Airport has also experienced various other accidents and incidents throughout its history. Trans World Airlines, Braniff International Airways, and other airlines have been involved in incidents such as crashes during landing approaches, mid-air collisions, and belly landings. These incidents resulted in fatalities, injuries, and property damage.

Chicago Midway Airport's busiest routes

Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) is a major commercial airport in Chicago, Illinois. It is located about 10-12 miles from the city's Loop business district and is one of the busiest airports in the nation, serving 22,050,489 passengers in 2023.

MDW is a base for Southwest Airlines, which carries over 90% of the airport's passengers. The airport has 43 gates across three concourses, with 17 in Concourse A, 23 in Concourse B, and 3 in Concourse C.

The busiest domestic routes from MDW between August 2023 and July 2024 were:

• Phoenix–Sky Harbor, Arizona
• New York–LaGuardia, New York
• Dallas–Love, Texas
• Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota
• Kansas City, Missouri

The busiest international routes from MDW between January and December 2023 were:

• Toronto Billy Bishop, Canada
• León/Del Bajío, Mexico
• Aguascalientes, Mexico
• Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
• Montego Bay, Jamaica

Frequently asked questions