Ord: What's Behind The Abbreviation And Which Airport?

Chicago O'Hare International Airport is assigned the code ORD, but what does this stand for? ORD is derived from the airport's previous name, Orchard Field Airport, which was located on the site of an aircraft factory known as Orchard Place. The IATA code has remained unchanged since it was first assigned, despite the airport's name change in 1949 to honour Edward Butch O'Hare, a local war hero and the U.S. Navy's first flying ace.

ORD stands for Orchard Field Airport

Orchard Field Airport was established in the mid-1940s on the site of a wartime aircraft assembly plant run by the Douglas Corporation. The airport was originally intended to serve the plant, which manufactured C-54 military transports during World War II. After the war, the site was known as Orchard Place, named after a small German-American farming community that had previously occupied the area.

The IATA code ORD was assigned to Orchard Field Airport in the mid-1940s and has remained unchanged since, even after the airport was renamed. The code is one of the few IATA codes that does not bear any connection to the airport's name or metropolitan area.

ORD is Chicago's main airport

ORD stands for Orchard Field Airport, Chicago's main airport. The airport was once the site of an aircraft factory known as Orchard Place, and later became a commercial airfield. In 1945, it was renamed Orchard Field Airport, and in 1949, it was renamed O'Hare Field, after local war hero Edward "Butch" O'Hare.

Chicago O'Hare International Airport is a major international airport serving Chicago, Illinois. It is located on the city's Northwest Side, approximately 17 miles (27 km) northwest of the Loop business district. O'Hare is considered the most connected airport in the US and the 5th most connected airport in the world. It is also the United States' 4th busiest airport and the 7th largest airport.

O'Hare was designed to be the successor to Chicago's Midway International Airport, once nicknamed the "busiest square mile in the world". During World War II, O'Hare began as an airfield serving a Douglas manufacturing plant for C-54 military transports. The site was known as Orchard Place, previously a small German-American farming community. The plant needed easy access to the workforce of the nation's second-largest city, as well as its railroads and a location far from enemy threat.

In the mid-1940s, the airfield was renamed Orchard Field Airport and assigned the IATA code ORD. The United States Air Force used the field extensively during the Korean War, and in 1949, the airport was renamed after aviator Edward "Butch" O'Hare, the U.S. Navy's first Medal of Honor recipient during World War II.

O'Hare became famous during the jet age, holding the distinction as the world's busiest airport by passenger traffic from 1963 to 1998. It still ranks as one of the busiest airports in the world, with 919,704 aircraft movements in 2019, averaging 2,520 per day. O'Hare has non-stop flights to 249 destinations across the globe, and its four numbered passenger terminals have a total of 213 gates—the most of any airport in the world.

O'Hare is one of the world's busiest airports

O'Hare International Airport, with the IATA code ORD, is one of the busiest airports in the world. ORD stands for Orchard Field Airport, the name given to the airport in the mid-1940s when it was an airfield serving a Douglas manufacturing plant for C-54 military transports during World War II.

O'Hare is the fourth busiest airport in the United States and the seventh largest airport in the country. It is considered the most connected airport in the US and the fifth most connected airport globally. The airport offers non-stop flights to 249 destinations across the world and serves about 83 million people annually.

O'Hare has a rich history in aviation, becoming famous during the jet age and holding the distinction of being the world's busiest airport by passenger traffic from 1963 to 1998. It was the first major airport planned after World War II, pioneering innovative designs such as concourses, direct highway access to the terminal, jet bridges, and underground refuelling systems.

The airport has a vast network of domestic and international flights, with 167 cities served by non-stop domestic flights and 61 countries served by non-stop international flights. O'Hare's efficient ground transportation system includes the Airport Transit System, which connects the terminals and the O'Hare Multi-Modal Facility, as well as easy access to the CTA Blue Line for direct service to downtown Chicago.

O'Hare is currently undergoing a major expansion, with Terminal 5, the international terminal, being expanded to add more gates, restaurants, and amenities. The airport is known for its clean facilities, numerous dining options, and unique features such as a yoga room and an aeroponic garden that supplies produce to airport restaurants.

O'Hare was renamed after aviator Edward Butch O'Hare

Chicago's O'Hare International Airport is named after the World War II naval aviator and war hero, Lieutenant Commander Edward Henry "Butch" O'Hare.

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, on March 13, 1914, Butch O'Hare was an exceptional pilot and a recipient of the Medal of Honor. On February 20, 1942, O'Hare's bravery and marksmanship were on full display when he single-handedly attacked a formation of nine Japanese bombers approaching his aircraft carrier. Despite facing intense enemy fire and having limited ammunition, O'Hare shot down five bombers and damaged a sixth, becoming the Navy's first fighter ace of the war.

O'Hare's heroic actions during World War II were not limited to this single engagement. On November 26, 1943, he led the Navy's first-ever nighttime fighter attack from an aircraft carrier, targeting a group of Japanese torpedo bombers. Unfortunately, during this mission, his plane was shot down, and he was reported missing in action. Despite extensive searches, neither O'Hare nor his aircraft was ever found.

In recognition of his extraordinary courage and service, O'Hare received numerous awards and honours, including the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Navy Cross, and the Congressional Medal of Honor.

On September 19, 1949, six years after O'Hare's death, the Chicago-area Orchard Field Airport was renamed O'Hare International Airport to honour his bravery and legacy. Today, the airport displays a Grumman F4F-3 Wildcat, similar to the one flown by O'Hare during his Medal of Honor action, as a tribute to its namesake.

O'Hare is the United States' 4th busiest airport

ORD stands for Chicago O'Hare International Airport, which is the fourth busiest airport in the United States. O'Hare is a major international airport serving Chicago, Illinois, and is located approximately 17 miles (27 km) northwest of the Loop business district. Covering 7,627 acres (11.92 sq mi; 30.87 km2), it is the seventh-largest airport in the country.

O'Hare is the most connected airport in the US and the fifth most connected globally, with non-stop flights to 249 destinations across the world. The airport has four numbered passenger terminals with nine lettered concourses and a total of 213 gates—the most of any airport worldwide. In 2023, O'Hare handled over 68 million passengers, with 720,582 aircraft movements.

The airport's history dates back to World War II when it served as an airfield for a Douglas manufacturing plant. It was initially known as Orchard Place, then renamed Orchard Field Airport in the mid-1940s, and finally became O'Hare Airport in 1949 to honour Edward "Butch" O'Hare, a naval aviator and the US Navy's first flying ace.

O'Hare played a significant role during the jet age, holding the title of the world's busiest airport by passenger traffic from 1963 to 1998. Today, it remains one of the busiest airports globally and is a hub for major airlines, including American Airlines and United Airlines.

The airport has undergone several expansions and upgrades over the years, including the O'Hare Modernization Plan (OMP) and the more recent O'Hare 21 project, which aims to boost capacity and improve passenger facilities. With its extensive history, busy terminals, and continuous development, O'Hare International Airport is a vital aviation hub in the United States.

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