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Chicago is served by Chicago O'Hare International Airport, located on the city's northwest side, approximately 17 miles from the Loop business district. The airport is accessible by road, with Interstate 190 (Kennedy Expressway) going directly into the airport, and by public transport, including the Chicago L, bus, and airport shuttle. O'Hare is one of the busiest airports in the world, with 919,704 aircraft movements in 2019, and offers non-stop flights to 249 destinations worldwide.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | O'Hare International Airport |
| Acronym | ORD |
| Location | Northwest Side of Chicago, Illinois, US |
| Distance from Chicago Loop | 17 miles |
| Operator | Chicago Department of Aviation |
| Area | 7,627 acres |
| Destinations | 249 |
| Ranking | 5th most connected airport in the world, 4th busiest airport |
| Road Access | Airport shuttle, bus, the Chicago "L", taxis, Interstate 190 (Kennedy Expressway) |
| Airlines | American Airlines, United Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Spirit Airlines |
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What You'll Learn
Chicago O'Hare International Airport
O'Hare has a long history, beginning as a manufacturing plant for Douglas C-54 Skymasters during World War II. The site was originally known as Orchard Place, a small German-American farming community. The plant covered 2 million square feet (190,000 m2) and was located in the northeast corner of what is now the airport. It needed easy access to Chicago's large workforce, railroads, and a location safe from enemy threats. During the jet age, O'Hare became famous as the world's busiest airport by passenger traffic, a title it held from 1963 to 1998.
Today, O'Hare remains one of the busiest airports globally, with 919,704 aircraft movements in 2019, averaging 2,520 per day. It offers non-stop flights to 249 destinations across North America, South America, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and the North Atlantic region. O'Hare is considered the most connected airport in the US and the fifth most connected airport worldwide. It is also the fourth busiest and sixteenth largest airport in the world.
The airport can be easily accessed by road via airport shuttle, bus, the Chicago "L", or taxis. Additionally, Interstate 190 (Kennedy Expressway) provides a direct route into the airport. O'Hare serves as a hub for major airlines such as American Airlines and United Airlines and is an operating base for Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines.
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Airport history
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (IATA: ORD, ICAO: KORD, FAA LID: 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. O'Hare is considered the most connected airport in the US and the 5th most connected airport in the world. It is also the world's 4th busiest airport and covers 7,627 acres (11.92 sq mi; 30.87 km2).
O'Hare International Airport was originally known as Orchard Place, a small German-American farming community. During World War II, the site was used as a manufacturing plant for Douglas C-54 Skymasters. The 2 million square feet (190,000 m2) plant needed easy access to the workforce of Chicago, railroads, and a location far from enemy threat. The airfield, from which the C-54s flew out, was known as Douglas Airport and initially had four 5,500-foot (1,700 m) runways.
In 1945, Chicago mayor Edward Kelly established a board to choose the site of a new airport to meet future demand. The board decided upon the Orchard Field site and acquired most of the federal government property in March 1946. The military retained a small parcel of property and the right to use 25% of the airfield's operating capacity for free. O'Hare International Airport opened to airlines in 1955 and became the successor to Chicago's Midway International Airport, which was once nicknamed the ""busiest square mile in the world".
Chicago Midway International Airport is a major commercial airport on the southwest side of Chicago, Illinois, located approximately 12 miles (19 km) from the city's Loop business district. Midway Airport was established in 1927 and served as Chicago's primary airport until the opening of O'Hare International Airport in 1944. Midway Airport was originally named Chicago Air Park and was built on a 320-acre (130 ha) plot in 1923 with one cinder runway mainly for airmail flights. In 1926, the city leased the airport and named it Chicago Municipal Airport. By 1928, the airport had twelve hangars and four runways, which were lit up for night operations.
In 1938-41, the airport expanded to fill the square mile after a court ordered the Chicago and Western Indiana Railroad to reroute tracks that had crossed the northern edge of the older field. In July 1949, the airport was renamed Midway Airport after the Battle of Midway. By 1959, Midway's runways were too short to safely handle larger four-engine jetliners, so Chicago jet flights were directed to use O'Hare instead.
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Transport to the airport
Chicago O'Hare International Airport is the primary airport serving Chicago, located on the city's northwest side. There are several transport options available for travellers to and from the airport.
Car
GO Airport Express offers a taxi service with the option of a metered or non-stop service. They also offer private car services, with a range of vehicles to choose from, including vans, SUVs, and sedans.
Bus
There are several airport shuttle services operating between the airport and various locations. Coach USA's Van Galder airport shuttle runs between the airport and Madison, Janesville, South Beloit, and Rockford. There is also a shuttle service provided by GO Airport Express, which offers shared rides with spacious seating and ample luggage space.
Train
The "L" train operated by the Chicago Transit Authority provides a connection to the airport from the city.
Limousine
Windy City Limousine provides a luxury experience with experienced chauffeurs offering reliable transportation to and from O'Hare and Midway International Airports, as well as private airports. They offer door-to-door services to downtown Chicago, hotels, conference venues, and other destinations.
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Airlines that use the airport
Chicago O'Hare International Airport 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. O'Hare is considered the most connected airport in the US and the 5th most connected airport worldwide as of 2024. It is also the 4th busiest airport globally.
O'Hare International Airport is a hub for several major airlines and offers non-stop flights to numerous destinations around the world. It serves as a major hub for United Airlines and American Airlines. United Airlines operates primarily out of Terminal 1, which has been recently renovated and is known for its comfort and efficiency. American Airlines operates out of Terminal 3, although passengers have noted that the terminal feels outdated and could improve its amenities.
In addition to United and American, O'Hare is also an important operating base for other airlines, including Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines. These carriers utilise O'Hare's convenient location and infrastructure to provide services to their customers.
O'Hare has a long history in aviation, dating back to World War II when it served as a manufacturing plant for Douglas C-54 Skymasters. The airport has grown and evolved over the years, and its efficient runway layout has been a subject of focus to ensure smooth operations. Today, O'Hare offers non-stop flights to more than 200 destinations across various continents, including North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Oceania.
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Airport terminals
Chicago O'Hare International Airport 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. O'Hare is one of the busiest airports in the world, with 919,704 aircraft movements in 2019, averaging 2,520 per day. The airport has non-stop flights to 249 destinations across the world and is considered the most connected airport in the US.
O'Hare International Airport has four terminals, which are connected by a free shuttle train (Airport Transport System or ATS) and a free shuttle bus (Terminal Transfer Bus or TTB). The ATS also connects the terminals to the Multi-Modal Facility (MMF) car rental facility, the F and Kiss 'n' Fly parking lots, and the bus station. The Upper Level of the airport is where ticketing and check-in take place, while the Lower Level houses the Arrivals area, baggage claim, and the ATS train station.
The concourses at O'Hare offer a wide variety of services, including restaurants, shops, and rest areas. Many travellers appreciate the easy access between concourses, and the convenience of quick-service kiosks and coffee shops. However, some reviews mention the high cost of food and beverages, long lines at restaurants and shops during peak hours, congestion, and issues with cleanliness. To avoid wasting time, travellers recommend using mobile ordering options or seeking out less crowded spots.
O'Hare became famous during the jet age and was the world's busiest airport by passenger traffic from 1963 to 1998. The airport's runway layout has been a factor in delays, with official reports in the 1990s ranking O'Hare as one of the worst-performing airports in the US based on the percentage of delayed flights. In response, the Chicago Department of Aviation committed to an O'Hare Modernization Plan (OMP) in 2001 to improve efficiency and reduce delays.
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Frequently asked questions
Chicago's primary international airport is O'Hare International Airport, located on the city's Northwest Side, approximately 17 miles (27 km) from the Loop business district.
O'Hare International 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 the airfield known as Douglas Airport. The site was chosen for its easy access to Chicago's workforce, railroads, and distance from enemy threat.
O'Hare International Airport is accessible by road, with Interstate 190 (Kennedy Expressway) going directly into the airport. It can also be reached via airport shuttle, bus, the Chicago "L", or taxi.
O'Hare has been one of the world's busiest airports since the jet age, ranking highly according to Airports Council International. It held the distinction of being the world's busiest airport by passenger traffic from 1963 to 1998. In 2019, O'Hare had 919,704 aircraft movements, averaging 2,520 per day, partly due to a large number of regional flights.
