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Chicago O'Hare International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world. Its IATA code is ORD, which stands for Orchard Field Airport, a former military base that occupied the area where the airport now stands. The airport was renamed in 1949 to honour Lt. Edward Butch O'Hare, a 29-year-old Chicago-born war hero who was killed in action in the Pacific Ocean during World War II.
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ORD stands for Orchard Field Airport
In the mid-1940s, the Chicago City Council purchased Orchard Field and adjacent land from the United States government to establish a second airport that, along with Midway Airport, would carry Chicago into the age of modern commercial aviation.
The airport was renamed O'Hare Airport in 1949 to honour Lt. Edward "Butch" O'Hare, a 29-year-old Chicago-born war hero who was killed in action in the Pacific Ocean on November 27, 1943.
Despite the name change, the airport code ORD remained unchanged, resulting in O'Hare being one of the few IATA codes bearing no connection to the airport's name or metropolitan area.
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Orchard Field was also known as Orchard Place
Orchard Field, also known as Orchard Place, was a military base that once occupied the area where Chicago's O'Hare Airport now stands. In 1945, the site was an airfield serving a Douglas manufacturing plant for C-54 military transports during World War II. It was known as Douglas Airport and had four 5,500-foot runways. The site was chosen for its easy access to the workforce and railroads of the nation's second-largest city, as well as its location far from enemy threat.
In the mid-1940s, the airfield was renamed Orchard Field Airport, and the IATA code ORD was assigned, with "ORD" standing for "orchard." In 1946, the forward-thinking Chicago City Council purchased Orchard Field and adjacent land from the US government to establish a second airport to carry Chicago into the age of modern commercial aviation.
Orchard Field was renamed O'Hare Airport in 1949 to honor Lt. Edward "Butch" O'Hare, a 29-year-old Chicago-born war hero who was killed in action in the Pacific Ocean in 1943. Despite the name change, the airport code ORD remained unchanged, resulting in O'Hare being one of the few IATA codes bearing no connection to the airport's name or metropolitan area.
O'Hare Airport officially opened to commercial air traffic in 1955 and has since become one of the busiest airports in the world. The IATA code ORD can be seen on flight reservations, luggage tags, airfare tickets, and more.
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The IATA code ORD was assigned to Orchard Field Airport
Orchard Field Airport was renamed O'Hare International Airport in 1949 to honour Edward "Butch" O'Hare, a World War II naval aviator and the U.S. Navy's first Medal of Honor recipient during that war. O'Hare was a 29-year-old Chicago-born war hero who was killed in action in the Pacific Ocean on November 27, 1943. Despite the name change, the IATA code ORD remained unchanged, resulting in one of the few IATA codes that bear no connection to the airport's name or metropolitan area.
Chicago O'Hare International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world, serving as a major international airport for Chicago, Illinois, United States. It is located approximately 17 miles (27 km) northwest of the Loop business district and offers non-stop flights to numerous destinations across the globe. O'Hare has consistently ranked as one of the busiest airports in terms of passenger traffic and aircraft movements.
The history of Orchard Field Airport and the derivation of its IATA code ORD are intriguing aspects of the evolution of Chicago's aviation landscape. The preservation of the original code despite the name change honours the site's past and provides a connection to its roots as Orchard Field Airport.
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Chicago O'Hare International Airport is one of the busiest in the world
Chicago O'Hare International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world. In 2022, it was the fourth busiest airport in the world, with 68.3 million passengers, according to preliminary global air traffic figures. It is also the United States' fourth busiest airport and seventh largest airport. O'Hare has nonstop flights to 249 destinations across the world, including North America, South America, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and the North Atlantic region.
The airport's IATA code, ORD, is derived from its former name, Orchard Field Airport, which was previously known as Orchard Place. The airport was renamed in 1949 to honour Edward "Butch" O'Hare, a World War II naval aviator and the U.S. Navy's first Medal of Honor recipient.
O'Hare has a rich history, dating back to its early days as an airfield serving a Douglas manufacturing plant during World War II. It was chosen as the site of a new airport in the mid-1940s due to its convenient access to railroads and its location away from enemy threats. The airport's innovative design included concourses, direct highway access, jet bridges, and underground refuelling systems.
O'Hare's dominance continued into the jet age, holding the title of the world's busiest airport by passenger traffic from 1963 to 1998. Even today, it remains one of the busiest airports globally, with 919,704 aircraft movements in 2019, averaging 2,520 per day. The airport is a hub for major airlines such as American Airlines and United Airlines, contributing to its high volume of flights and passengers.
The airport has undergone various expansions and developments over the years, including the addition of new terminals, concourses, and improved transportation access. O'Hare's efficient design and strategic location have solidified its position as one of the world's busiest and most important aviation hubs.
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The airport is named after Lt. Edward Butch O'Hare, a 29-year-old Chicago-born war hero
The airport code for Chicago O'Hare International Airport is ORD. This is derived from the site's previous name, Orchard Field, which was also known as Orchard Place. Orchard Field was a military base that was once home to an aircraft factory and later a commercial airfield.
In 1949, the airport was renamed O'Hare Field, after Lt. Edward "Butch" O'Hare, a 29-year-old Chicago-born war hero. O'Hare was a World War II naval aviator and the U.S. Navy's first flying ace and Medal of Honor recipient during the war. He was killed in action in the Pacific Ocean on November 27, 1943.
The IATA code ORD remained unchanged after the airport was renamed, resulting in O'Hare being one of the few IATA codes that does not directly correspond to the airport or the city it serves.
O'Hare International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world. It has non-stop flights to 249 destinations across the globe and is considered the most connected airport in the US. The airport is known for its innovative design, featuring concourses, direct highway access to the terminals, jet bridges, and underground refuelling systems.
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Frequently asked questions
ORD stands for Orchard Field Airport, which was the name of the airfield before it was renamed after Edward "Butch" O'Hare in 1949.
Edward "Butch" O'Hare was a 29-year-old Chicago-born war hero who was killed in action in the Pacific Ocean on November 27, 1943. He was a World War II naval aviator and the U.S. Navy's first flying ace and Medal of Honor recipient during the war.
The Chicago City Council renamed Orchard Field as O'Hare International Airport to honour Edward "Butch" O'Hare.
O'Hare Airport was built on a site called Orchard Field, also known as Orchard Place. During World War II, it served as an airfield for a Douglas manufacturing plant producing C-54 military transports. In the mid-1940s, it was renamed Orchard Field Airport and assigned the IATA code ORD.
