Midway Airport Location: County And City Details

Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) is a major commercial airport on the southwest side of Chicago, Illinois. It is located in Cook County, approximately 12 miles (19 km) from the city's Loop business district. The airport is bounded by 55th and 63rd Streets, Central and Cicero Avenues.

Chicago Midway International Airport's history

Chicago Midway International Airport is a major commercial airport located on the southwest side of Chicago, Illinois, approximately 12 miles (19 km) from the city's Loop business district. The airport is divided between the city's Clearing and Garfield Ridge communities.

The airport was established in 1927 and served as Chicago's primary airport until the opening of O'Hare International Airport in 1944. Originally named Chicago Air Park, it was built on a 320-acre plot in 1923 with a single cinder runway intended primarily for airmail flights. In 1926, the city leased the airport, and on December 12, 1927, it was named Chicago Municipal Airport. By 1928, the airport had expanded to include twelve hangars and four runways, which were lit for night operations. However, a major fire on June 25, 1930, destroyed two hangars and 27 aircraft, resulting in a loss of over two million dollars.

In July 1949, the airport was renamed Chicago Midway International Airport after the Battle of Midway. That year, the airport saw 3.2 million passengers, and by 1959, passenger traffic peaked at 10 million. However, the airport was surrounded by buildings, limiting its expansion capabilities. The shorter runways could not safely accommodate larger four-engine jetliners, such as the Boeing 707 and the Douglas DC-8, which began to appear in 1959. As a result, jet flights were redirected to O'Hare International Airport, which had opened in 1955.

Despite the challenges with expansion, Midway International Airport remained a significant aviation hub. In 1967, reconstruction efforts added three new concourses with 28 gates and three ticket counters. The city invested $10 million in renovation funds in 1968. In 1996, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley announced the Midway Airport Terminal Development Program, which was the largest public works project in the state at the time. The program included the construction of a parking garage, a pedestrian bridge over Cicero Avenue, and a new terminal building that opened in 2001, offering improved facilities for passengers.

Today, Chicago Midway International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the nation and the second busiest in the Chicago metropolitan area and Illinois. It served 22,050,489 passengers in 2023 and is a base for Southwest Airlines, which carries over 90% of the airport's passengers. The airport covers just over one square mile (650 acres or 260 hectares) and has four active runways, with the largest aircraft typically being the Boeing 757.

The airport's location in Cook County

Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) is located in Cook County, in the heart of Chicago, Illinois. The airport is situated on the southwest side of the city, approximately 8-13 kilometres from the Loop, Chicago's main business district. Midway is easily accessible by public transport, with the Chicago Transit Authority operating the Orange Line "L" and multiple bus routes to the airport. Additionally, bus services such as Pace and River Valley Metro also provide connections to the airport.

The airport is named after the Battle of Midway, a significant event during World War II. Established in 1927, Midway served as Chicago's primary airport until the opening of O'Hare International Airport in 1955. Despite being surrounded by buildings, Midway has undergone expansions over the years, including the addition of new concourses and the construction of a new terminal building in 2001. The airport features a single terminal with 43 gates, spread across an area of just one square mile.

Midway is a major commercial airport, ranked as the second-busiest airport in the Chicago metropolitan area and the state of Illinois. In 2023, the airport served over 22 million passengers, with Southwest Airlines being the dominant carrier. The airport caters to various domestic and international airlines, including North Country Sky, Delta Airlines, Porter Airlines, and Volaris Airlines.

The airport facilities include terminals, hangars, maintenance areas, and control towers. Additionally, Midway offers a range of services for travellers, such as parking, retail and dining options, and access to local hotels. The airport is known for its convenient location, making it a popular choice for business travellers and those visiting downtown Chicago.

Transport options to and from the airport

Midway International Airport is located on the southwest side of Chicago, Illinois, approximately 12 miles from the city's Loop business district. It is one of the busiest airports in the United States, serving over 22 million passengers in 2023.

There are several transport options available to get to and from Midway Airport. Here is a list of the different ways to get to and from the airport:

Public Transport

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) operates the Orange Line "L" train, which connects the airport to the city's downtown Loop, providing easy access to Chicago hotels and top attractions. The CTA also operates multiple bus routes to and from the airport.

Shuttle Services

River Valley Metro operates a commuter shuttle that connects Midway Airport to Manteno and Bourbonnais in Kankakee County. Additionally, GO Airport Shuttle offers door-to-door shuttle services to and from the airport, providing transparent fares, and a choice of shared or private vans, non-stop rides, and premium car services.

Taxi

Economy rides are available as a budget-friendly alternative, utilising non-metered airport taxis when the shared ride service is unavailable.

Car

Midway Airport has a parking garage connected to the terminal building, providing covered parking and convenient access to ticket counters and baggage claim areas.

Ride Hailing Services

Ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft are also available in Chicago and can be used to get to and from Midway Airport. These services can be requested through their respective mobile applications.

The airport's terminal complex

Chicago Midway International Airport (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 and is divided between the Clearing and Garfield Ridge communities. Midway is one of the busiest airports in the nation, serving 22,050,489 passengers in 2023.

The airport terminal complex features a single, plush terminal building with 43 gates and next-gen facilities. The terminal building, which opened in 2001, covers 900,000 square feet (84,000 m2) and includes larger ticket counters, spacious baggage claim areas, and traveller information. The terminal is conveniently connected to the parking garage, which opened in 1999, providing covered parking for the first time. A pedestrian bridge over Cicero Avenue connects the terminal to the concourses.

The airport has three concourses (A, B, and C) with a total of 43 aircraft gates. Concourse A has 17 gates, Concourse B has 23 gates, and Concourse C has 3 gates. The airport's longest runway is 13C/31C, with a landing distance of 6,059 feet (1,847 m) in the southeast direction and 5,826 feet (1,776 m) to the northwest. Runway 13L/31R was permanently closed in 2023 and converted to Taxiway H.

The CTA Orange Line and Stevenson Expressway are two key transport links to the airport, and the Chicago Transit Authority also operates multiple bus routes to and from the airport. In addition, rental cars, taxis, and shuttle services are available.

Airlines that fly to and from Midway

Midway International Airport, also known as Chicago Midway International Airport, is located on the southwest side of Chicago, Illinois. It is named after the Battle of Midway and is one of the busiest airports in the United States. The airport is a major hub for Southwest Airlines, which carries over 90% of the airport's passengers. Southwest Airlines offers nonstop flights to Chicago Midway, with convenient connections to the city's downtown area.

Historically, Midway Airport has seen a variety of airlines operating throughout the years. In the 1930s, scheduled airline departures included carriers such as United, American, TWA, Northwest, Eastern, Braniff, Pennsylvania Central, and C&S. In the 1940s, the airport's popularity grew, and by 1959, the passenger count peaked at 10 million. During this time, airlines like American, United, TWA, Capital, North Central, Delta, Eastern, Northwest, Ozark, Braniff, Trans-Canada, and Lake Central had a significant presence at Midway. International carriers such as Air France, Lufthansa, and REAL (of Brazil) also operated a few flights per week.

However, in 1959, with the introduction of larger jetliners like the Boeing 707 and Douglas DC-8, Midway faced challenges due to its limited runway lengths. As a result, Chicago jet flights were redirected to O'Hare International Airport, which had opened in 1955. Despite this, some airlines continued to operate from Midway, including Chicago Helicopter, which was the airport's only scheduled airline between 1962 and 1964.

In the following decades, Midway experienced periods of renovation and expansion. By the late 1960s, reconstruction efforts added new concourses, gates, and ticket counters. In the early 2000s, the Midway Airport Terminal Development Program further enhanced the airport's infrastructure, including the addition of a new terminal building with improved facilities for passengers.

More recently, in 2008, ATA Airlines, which was based at Midway, ceased operations. Around the same time, Porter Airlines started offering flights between Midway and Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. In 2010, Volaris began operating flights between Guadalajara and Midway, providing additional international connectivity.

Today, Southwest Airlines remains the dominant carrier at Midway International Airport, with a strong presence and a high volume of passengers utilizing their services.

Frequently asked questions