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Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) is a major commercial airport in Illinois, located 12 miles from the city's Loop business district. It is one of the busiest airports in the nation, serving 22,050,489 passengers in 2023. With Southwest Airlines as its primary carrier, the airport has undergone several expansion projects over the years, including the addition of new terminals, concourses, and parking facilities. However, with the ongoing shutdown, travellers are concerned about potential delays and the overall efficiency of operations at Midway Airport.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Is Midway Airport slow with the shutdown? | No specific information found regarding Midway Airport being slow with the shutdown. However, the airport is currently experiencing gate hold and taxi delays lasting 15 minutes or less. |
| Location | Chicago, Illinois, approximately 12 miles from the city's Loop business district |
| Status | One of the busiest airports in the nation and the second busiest in Chicago and Illinois |
| Historical Status | In 1931, Midway Airport claimed to be the "World's Busiest" airport with over 100,846 passengers on 60,947 flights. It retained the title of the busiest airline airport in the US until 1960. |
| Airlines | Serves as a base for Southwest Airlines, which carries over 90% of the passengers |
| Historical Airlines | United, Chicago Helicopter, Vanguard Airlines, National Airlines, AirTran Airways, Midway Airlines, Eastern, Braniff, Pennsylvania Central, C&S, TWA, Northwest, American |
| Terminal Development | The Midway Airport Terminal Development Program was launched in 1997 as the largest public works project in the state at the time. A new terminal building opened in 2001, offering expanded facilities for passengers. |
| Transport Connections | Terminus for the Orange Line, which operates from 4:00 am to 1:00 am with trains arriving at 8-minute intervals. The N62 Archer bus provides overnight transportation. |
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What You'll Learn
- Chicago Midway International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the US
- The airport is located 12 miles from Chicago's Loop business district
- Southwest Airlines carries over 90% of the passengers at the airport
- The airport has a range of transport links, including the Orange Line and N62 Archer bus
- The airport has undergone several expansion projects, including a new terminal building in 2001
Chicago Midway International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the US
Chicago Midway International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the United States. Established in 1927, Midway served as Chicago's primary airport until the opening of O'Hare International Airport in 1944. Despite this, Midway remains a major commercial airport, serving over 22 million passengers in 2023, making it the second-busiest airport in the Chicago metropolitan area and Illinois.
The airport is located on the southwest side of Chicago, approximately 12 miles (19 km) from the city's Loop business district. It is divided between the Clearing and Garfield Ridge communities. Midway is easily accessible by public transport, with the Orange Line train arriving at intervals of about 8 minutes and providing a connection to the Loop in around 25 minutes. Additionally, the N62 Archer bus offers an alternative mode of transportation for those travelling during overnight hours.
The airport has undergone significant development and expansion over the years. In 1999, the Midway Airport parking garage opened, providing covered parking for the first time. This was followed by the construction of a pedestrian bridge over Cicero Avenue in 2000, connecting the new terminal to the concourses. In 2001, a new 900,000-square-foot terminal building opened, offering larger ticket counters, spacious baggage claim areas, and a short walking distance to the gates. The expansion project attracted new airlines, leading to a period of great airline diversity at Midway.
Midway has a rich history in aviation. As early as 1931, the airport boasted a new passenger terminal and claimed the title of the "World's Busiest" airport in 1932, with over 100,846 passengers on 60,947 flights. After briefly losing its status as Chicago's primary airport, Midway experienced a period of decline until reconstruction efforts began in 1967, adding new concourses, ticket counters, and renovation funds from the city. Today, Midway continues to be a vital and bustling airport, serving millions of passengers each year.
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The airport is located 12 miles from Chicago's Loop business district
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) is a major commercial airport located on the southwest side of Chicago, Illinois. Established in 1927, Midway served as Chicago's primary airport until the opening of O'Hare International Airport in 1955 or 1944. The airport is located approximately 12 miles (19 km) from Chicago's Loop business district and is divided between the Clearing and Garfield Ridge communities.
Midway is one of the busiest airports in the nation and the second-busiest airport in the Chicago metropolitan area and Illinois. In 2019, the airport served 20,844,860 passengers, while in 2023, it served 22,050,489 passengers. Southwest Airlines uses Midway as its base, carrying over 90% of the airport's passengers. The airport is named after the Battle of Midway, and the now-defunct Midway Airlines, which once operated from the airport, took its name from it.
The airport covers just over one square mile (650 acres or 260 hectares) and has four active runways. The longest runway, 13C/31C, is 6,522 ft × 150 ft (1,988 m × 46 m), while the shortest, 13R/31L, is 3,859 ft × 60 ft (1,176 m × 18 m). Due to its location surrounded by buildings, Midway's runways are displaced to provide obstacle clearance, resulting in shorter landing distances than takeoff distances.
The Chicago 'L' Orange Line provides a direct connection from Midway to the Loop, with trains arriving at intervals of about 8 minutes. The journey from the airport to the Loop takes approximately 25 minutes once the train has departed.
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Southwest Airlines carries over 90% of the passengers at the airport
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) is a major commercial airport located on the southwest side of Chicago, Illinois. Established in 1927, Midway served as Chicago's primary airport until 1944 when O'Hare International Airport opened. Today, Midway is one of the busiest airports in the nation and the second-busiest airport in both the Chicago metropolitan area and Illinois state. In 2023, the airport served 22,050,489 passengers.
Southwest Airlines is a major carrier at Midway International Airport, with the airline claiming the airport as one of its hubs. In fact, Southwest Airlines carries over 90% of the passengers travelling through Midway Airport. The airline has been operating at Midway since 1985, and the airport even serves as a base for the carrier. Southwest offers a range of low-cost flights from Midway, with fares starting at $49. Destinations include Minneapolis/St. Paul, St. Louis, and Omaha. Passengers can easily access the airport via the "'L'" train, with the Orange Line providing a direct connection to the airport from the city.
In addition to Southwest Airlines, several other airlines have had a significant presence at Midway International Airport. ATA Airlines, for instance, underwent rapid expansion at Midway in the early 2000s, becoming the dominant carrier before declaring bankruptcy in 2004. Vanguard Airlines also had a focus city at Midway from 1997 to 2000.
While Midway has a strong history and continues to be an important aviation hub, it has also experienced some notable incidents. In 1972, a United Air Lines Flight crashed during landing, resulting in 45 fatalities. More recently, in 2005, a Southwest Airlines flight slid off the runway during a heavy snowstorm, breaking through the airport fence and injuring several people. Additionally, in 2025, a Southwest Airlines flight was forced to abort its landing to avoid a potential collision with a private jet that had entered the runway without authorization.
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The airport has a range of transport links, including the Orange Line and N62 Archer bus
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) is Chicago's second-largest airport, located just 11 miles from downtown. It is a major hub for Southwest Airlines and offers flights to more than 75 domestic destinations and eight international ones. The airport is user-friendly and less crowded than O'Hare International Airport (ORD), but it still serves about 22 million passengers annually. Midway has a single terminal building with three concourses (A, B, and C) that are easily accessible from the central check-in and security area.
The airport is well-connected to the city's transport network, including the CTA Orange Line and the N62 Archer bus. The Orange Line provides convenient access to several popular destinations in Chicago. For example, it takes about 25 minutes to get from the airport to Adams/Wabash Station, which is a short walk from Millennium Park. Passengers can also take the Orange Line to State/Lake Station and transfer to the #124 or #29 bus to reach Navy Pier in about an hour. To get to Lincoln Park Zoo, located 15 miles north of Midway, travellers can take the Orange Line to a stop within The Loop and then transfer to a northbound bus, with the total journey lasting about an hour.
The N62 Archer bus also provides transport links to and from Midway Airport. The nearest bus stop is a 3-minute walk from the airport, with bus lines 136, 147, 2, 22, 24, 3, 6, and 65 stopping nearby. The bus fare for the N62 Archer route is approximately $2.25. In addition to bus and train services, travellers can also use taxis or ridesharing services to get to and from the airport. These options provide quicker travel times, especially when there is no traffic.
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The airport has undergone several expansion projects, including a new terminal building in 2001
Midway Airport in Chicago has undergone a series of expansion projects to accommodate the rising air traffic in the region. The airport, which first opened in 1927 as Chicago Municipal Airport, was once the world's busiest airport in its early years. However, with the explosive growth of air travel and the subsequent development of the larger O'Hare International Airport, Midway faced increasing congestion issues.
To address these challenges, the Chicago Department of Aviation launched the Midway Airport Terminal Development Program in 1997, aiming to replace the older terminal and improve the utilisation of existing airfield space. This $761 million expansion project included the construction of a new 900,000-square-foot terminal building, which opened in March 2001. The new terminal featured larger ticket counters, more spacious baggage claim areas, and convenient access to gates.
The expansion project also included the addition of airline gates and a new concourse, completed in October 2001. This concourse offered a significant increase in gate capacity, with a total of 43 gates available by 2004. Additionally, a new customs facility was opened in 2002, marking the return of international service to Midway after a 40-year absence.
The expansion project had a positive impact on airline diversity at Midway. Airlines such as Vanguard Airlines, National Airlines, AirTran Airways, and ATA Airlines expanded their services to the airport. However, the events of September 11, 2001, caused a decrease in passenger service, leading to the cessation of operations by Vanguard and National Airlines at Midway by 2002.
In addition to the terminal and concourse expansions, Midway Airport also underwent improvements in parking facilities and roadway infrastructure. The Midway Airport parking garage, completed in 1999, provided covered parking for the first time. A pedestrian bridge over Cicero Avenue, constructed in 2000, improved connectivity between the new terminal and the concourses. These enhancements were designed to increase the airport's capacity and reduce congestion, ensuring a smoother experience for travellers.
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Frequently asked questions
I cannot find information on Midway Airport being shut down. However, the airport's website reports that it is currently experiencing gate hold and taxi delays of 15 minutes or less.
The Orange Line runs from approximately 4:00 am to 1:00 am, with trains arriving at intervals of about 8 minutes. The N62 Archer bus is an alternative for those travelling overnight. The journey from Midway to the Loop takes roughly 25 minutes.
Midway Airport, located in Chicago, Illinois, was established in 1927 and served as the city's primary airport until the opening of O'Hare International Airport in 1944. It is named after the Battle of Midway and is currently a base for Southwest Airlines, which carries over 90% of the airport's passengers.
Yes, the Midway Airport parking garage opened in 1999, providing covered parking for the first time. The garage is connected to the terminal building for easy access to ticket counters and baggage claim areas.
