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Chicago is served by two major airports: O'Hare International Airport and Midway International Airport. O'Hare Airport is named after Navy Lt. Edward Butch O'Hare, a World War II fighter pilot and Medal of Honor recipient. The airport was the first major airport planned after World War II and is known for its innovative design. Midway Airport, on the other hand, was established in 1927 and is named after the Battle of Midway. It served as Chicago's primary airport until the opening of O'Hare International Airport in 1944.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the Airport | O'Hare International Airport |
| Who is it named after? | Navy Lt. Edward O'Hare, a WWII fighter pilot and Medal of Honor recipient |
| Location | Northwest Side of Chicago, Illinois, US |
| Distance from the Loop business district | 17 miles (27 km) |
| Operator | Chicago Department of Aviation |
| Area covered | 7,627 acres (11.92 sq mi; 30.87 km2) |
| Number of runways | 8 |
| Destinations | 249 in North America, South America, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East and the North Atlantic region |
| Ranking | 4th busiest airport in the world, 5th most connected airport in the world |
| Previous names | Orchard Place, Chicago Air Park, Chicago Municipal Airport |
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What You'll Learn
- Chicago O'Hare International Airport is named after WWII fighter pilot, Navy Lt. Edward O'Hare
- O'Hare Airport was the world's busiest airport from 1963 to 1998
- O'Hare Airport is located 17 miles northwest of Chicago's Loop business district
- Chicago's other airport, Midway International Airport, is named after the Battle of Midway
- Midway International Airport is located 12 miles from the Loop business district
Chicago O'Hare International Airport is named after WWII fighter pilot, Navy Lt. Edward O'Hare
Chicago O'Hare International Airport is named after WWII fighter pilot, Navy Lt. Edward "Butch" O'Hare. The airport is the primary international airport serving Chicago, Illinois, United States, located on the city's northwest side, approximately 17 miles (27 km) northwest of the Loop business district. O'Hare has non-stop flights to 249 destinations across the world and is considered the most connected airport in the US as of 2024. It is also one of the busiest airports globally, ranking 4th in 2024.
O'Hare Airport was designed to be the successor to Chicago's Midway International Airport, which was once nicknamed the "busiest square mile in the world". The new airport was planned after World War II, and its innovative design pioneered concepts such as concourses, direct highway access to the terminal, jet bridges, and underground refueling systems.
During World War II, the site that would become O'Hare Airport was originally a manufacturing plant for Douglas C-54 Skymasters. The plant covered 2 million square feet and was located in the northeast corner of what is now the airport. The airfield, from which the C-54s flew out, was known as Douglas Airport and initially had four 5,500-foot runways.
Navy Lt. Edward O'Hare was the Navy's first Medal of Honor recipient during World War II. He shot down six Japanese heavy bombers and became famous for his heroic actions. The airport in Chicago was named in his honour, and his memory lives on through the millions of travellers who pass through O'Hare Airport every year.
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O'Hare Airport was the world's busiest airport from 1963 to 1998
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) is the primary international airport serving Chicago, Illinois, United States. It is located on the city's northwest side, approximately 17 miles (27 km) northwest of the Loop business district. The airport is operated by the Chicago Department of Aviation and covers 7,627 acres (11.92 sq mi; 30.87 km2).
The airport's journey to becoming the busiest in the world began in the 1950s. Scheduled passenger service at O'Hare commenced in 1955, but growth was initially slow. Chicago had invested heavily in the airport, and improvements in infrastructure soon attracted airlines. O'Hare's first international terminal opened in 1958, and by 1959, the airport had expanded significantly with new hangars, terminals, parking, and other facilities. The expressway link to downtown Chicago, known today as the Kennedy Expressway, was completed in 1960, enhancing the airport's accessibility.
The arrival of Midway's traffic played a pivotal role in O'Hare's ascent to becoming the world's busiest airport. In July 1964, all scheduled airline flights in Chicago transitioned from Midway to O'Hare, and within two years, O'Hare was serving 10 million passengers annually. This number continued to grow, and by the 1980s, O'Hare had established itself as a major aviation hub, boasting eight runways and accommodating a substantial volume of regional flights.
O'Hare's innovative design, which included concourses, direct highway access to the terminal, jet bridges, and underground refuelling systems, contributed to its success. Its location in Chicago, the nation's second-largest city at the time, and its ability to offer non-stop flights to numerous destinations worldwide further solidified its position as the world's busiest airport for over three decades.
Even today, O'Hare remains a highly significant airport, ranking as the fourth busiest in the United States and among the top ten busiest airports globally. Its extensive network of non-stop flights to 249 destinations worldwide and its status as a hub for major airlines underscore its enduring importance in global aviation.
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O'Hare Airport is located 17 miles northwest of Chicago's Loop business district
O'Hare International Airport, located 17 miles northwest of Chicago's Loop business district, is the primary international airport serving Chicago, Illinois, United States. It is one of the busiest airports in the world, with 919,704 aircraft movements in 2019, averaging 2,520 per day. This is partly due to a large number of regional flights, with non-stop flights to 249 destinations across the globe as of Summer 2024.
The airport is named after Navy Lt. Edward O'Hare, a World War II fighter pilot and Medal of Honor recipient. O'Hare Airport was the first major airport planned after World War II, and its innovative design included concourses, direct highway access to the terminal, jet bridges, and underground refuelling systems.
The site of O'Hare Airport was originally known as Orchard Place, a small German-American farming community. During World War II, it served as a manufacturing plant for Douglas C-54 Skymasters, with easy access to the workforce of Chicago, railroads, and a location far from enemy threat. The airfield was initially known as Douglas Airport and had four 5,500-foot runways.
O'Hare Airport is a hub for American Airlines and United Airlines, and it serves as the headquarters for United Airlines in Willis Tower. The airport covers 7,627 acres and is considered the most connected airport in the US, and the fifth most connected airport worldwide as of 2024.
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Chicago's other airport, Midway International Airport, is named after the Battle of Midway
Chicago is served by two major airports: O'Hare International Airport and Midway International Airport. O'Hare is the primary international airport serving Chicago, located on the city's northwest side. Midway, on the other hand, is located on the southwest side of Chicago. It is one of the busiest airports in the nation and the second busiest in both the Chicago metropolitan area and Illinois state.
Midway International 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, mainly 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 up for night operations.
The airport was renamed Midway in July 1949, in honour of the Battle of Midway, a significant World War II battle fought between the United States and Japan in 1942. The US troops displayed unusual courage and valour, sinking four Japanese aircraft carriers while losing only one of their own. This victory was crucial as the Japanese fleet retreated to Japan and never went on the offensive again for the remainder of the war. The city of Chicago chose to commemorate this important battle by naming the airport Midway, ensuring that the sacrifices made by US troops would be remembered.
Today, Midway remains a vital transportation hub, serving over 22 million passengers in 2023. It is a base for Southwest Airlines, which carries the majority of passengers at the airport. The airport's convenient location and efficient operations continue to make it a preferred choice for travellers in the Chicago area.
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Midway International Airport is located 12 miles from the Loop business district
Midway International Airport, originally named Chicago Air Park, is located 12 miles from the Loop business district in Chicago, Illinois. The airport was established in 1927 and served as Chicago's primary airport until the opening of O'Hare International Airport in 1944. Midway is located on the southwest side of Chicago and is divided between the Clearing and Garfield Ridge communities. The airport was named in honour of the Battle of Midway.
Midway Airport was built on a 320-acre plot in 1923 with a single cinder runway, primarily for airmail flights. The city leased the airport in 1926 and renamed it Chicago Municipal Airport on December 12, 1927. 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, causing over two million dollars in damage. Despite this setback, a new passenger terminal opened in 1931, and by 1932, the airport claimed the title of "World's Busiest," handling over 100,846 passengers on 60,947 flights.
In the years following, Chicago recognised the need for additional airport capacity, and during World War II, the site that would become O'Hare International Airport served as a manufacturing plant for Douglas C-54 Skymasters. O'Hare opened in 1944, relieving Midway as Chicago's primary airport.
Today, Midway remains one of the busiest airports in the nation, serving 22,050,489 passengers in 2023. It is a base for Southwest Airlines, which carries over 90% of the airport's passengers. The airport has continued to undergo expansions and improvements, including the addition of a new walkway and food court in 2010.
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Frequently asked questions
Chicago O'Hare International Airport is named after Navy Lt. Edward O'Hare, a WWII fighter pilot and Medal of Honor recipient.
Navy Lt. Edward O'Hare was a WWII fighter pilot who shot down six Japanese heavy bombers. He was the Navy's first Medal of Honor recipient during the war.
Yes, many American airports are named after politicians or celebrities. Some examples include LaGuardia, Kennedy, Reagan, Hartsfield-Jackson, John Wayne, and Louis Armstrong.
