Owais Crawford
Chicago is served by three international airports: O'Hare International Airport, Midway International Airport, and Gary/Chicago International Airport. O'Hare is Chicago's busiest airport, with five terminals and a much larger number of domestic and international flights compared to Midway. It is one of the busiest airports in the world, serving nearly 1,000 daily direct flights to and from international and domestic destinations. O'Hare is also notable for its unique initiatives, such as hosting an apiary with bees maintained by ex-offenders, and its wide range of dining and shopping options.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | O'Hare International Airport |
| Other names | Chicago O'Hare Airport, Chicago O'Hare International Airport, ORD |
| Location | Northwest side of Chicago |
| Number of runways | 8 |
| Number of terminals | 4 or 5 |
| Number of gates | 50 in Terminal 1, 79 in Terminal 3 |
| Airlines | United, United Express, Lufthansa, ANA, Air Canada, Alaska, Delta, Delta Shuttle, JetBlue, Air Choice One, American Airlines, American Airlines Shuttle, Cape Air, Iberia, Japan Airlines, Spirit Airlines, American, Air France, British Airways, Emirates, KLM, Qatar, Turkish Airlines, etc. |
| Dining options | Berghoff Cafe, Chili's Too, Tuscany Restaurant, Wicker Park Seafood & Sushi, Starbucks, Chicago Cubs Bar & Grill, Macaroni Grill, McDonald's, Dunkin', Burger King, etc. |
| Other amenities | Yoga room, MAMAVA nursing pods, Mother's rooms, kids play area, barber shop, Hilton Chicago O'Hare (the only hotel on the airport property) |
| Transportation | Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Blue Line, Metra commuter train service, airport shuttle buses, taxi, rideshare |
| Parking rates | $15 per day, $3 for the first hour, $42 for the whole day |
| Cargo areas | Two main cargo areas: North Cargo Area and South Cargo Area |
| Unique features | First major airport to build an apiary on its property, hosting 75 hives and a million bees during summer |
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What You'll Learn
- O'Hare International Airport is Chicago's busiest airport
- O'Hare has eight runways, the most of any civilian airport
- O'Hare offers international and domestic flights
- O'Hare has five terminals with a range of dining and shopping options
- O'Hare is accessible via the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Blue Line
O'Hare International Airport is Chicago's busiest airport
O'Hare International Airport (ORD) is Chicago's busiest airport. Located on the northwest side of the city, O'Hare is easily accessible via several transport options. The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Blue Line and the Metra commuter train service both have stops at the airport. Additionally, regional and airport shuttle buses, as well as taxis, provide ground transportation to and from the airport. For those driving their own cars, parking is available at a starting rate of $15 per day.
O'Hare is one of the busiest airports in the world, ranking as the fourth busiest and the 16th largest airport globally as of 2024. It is also considered the most connected airport in the United States and the fifth most connected worldwide. In 2019, O'Hare recorded 919,704 aircraft movements, averaging 2,520 per day—the highest of any airport globally. This high volume of traffic is partly due to the large number of regional flights operating from the airport. O'Hare offers nearly 1,000 daily direct flights to and from international and domestic destinations, providing connections across the globe.
The airport features four terminals, each with a variety of dining and shopping options. Terminal 1 includes airlines such as ANA, Lufthansa, United, and United Express. Terminal 2 serves Air Canada, Alaska, Delta, Delta Shuttle, and JetBlue. Terminal 3 is home to Air Choice One, American Airlines, American Airlines Shuttle, Cape Air, Iberia, Japan Airlines, and Spirit Airlines. Terminal 5, located where the airport's first cargo facilities once stood, is now surrounded by the South Cargo Area, which is divided into three sections: Southwest, South Central, and Southeast.
O'Hare stands out not just for its high passenger traffic but also for its unique initiatives. In 2011, the airport became the first major airport to build an apiary on its property, hosting up to 75 hives and a million bees during the summer months. This project provides job opportunities for ex-offenders, teaching them beekeeping skills and allowing them to create and market various bee-related products under the beelove brand. O'Hare also has a nighttime noise abatement program in place to manage noise levels between 22:00 and 07:00. With its continuous innovation, busy schedule, and wide range of facilities, O'Hare International Airport plays a crucial role in Chicago's aviation landscape.
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O'Hare has eight runways, the most of any civilian airport
Chicago has two major airports: O'Hare International Airport and Midway International Airport. O'Hare is the busier of the two, with dozens of airlines flying to and from its four terminals. By comparison, Midway is much smaller, with just one main terminal with three concourses and about a fifth of the number of flights.
O'Hare is one of the busiest airports in the country, serving states across the US and destinations in Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Central and South America, and more. It is directly served by Interstate 190, which offers interchanges with the Tri-State Tollway (Interstate 294) and Interstate 90. I-90 continues as the Kennedy Expressway into downtown Chicago.
O'Hare has a rich 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 airfield, from which the C-54s flew out, was known as Douglas Airport and initially had four 5,500-foot (1,700 m) runways.
O'Hare has continued to expand and develop over the years. It had four runways in 1955, with runway 14R/32L opening in 1956 and extending to 11,600 feet (3,500 m) a few years later, enabling non-stop flights to Europe. Runway 9R/27L (now 10L/28R) opened in 1968, and runway 4R/22L opened in 1971. Today, O'Hare has eight runways, the most of any civilian airport in the world. The airfield is managed by three FAA air traffic control towers.
In addition to its impressive infrastructure, O'Hare has also pioneered innovative initiatives, such as being the first major airport to build an apiary on its property, hosting up to 75 hives and a million bees during the summer months. This program provides job opportunities for ex-offenders, teaching them beekeeping skills and helping them develop marketable products such as honey, soaps, and candles.
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O'Hare offers international and domestic flights
Chicago has two major airports: O'Hare International Airport and Midway International Airport. O'Hare is the main airport, offering a large number of international and domestic flights.
O'Hare International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world, serving nearly 1,000 direct flights daily to and from destinations worldwide. It has four terminals, each with a range of dining and shopping options. Terminal 1 airlines include ANA, Lufthansa, United, and United Express. Terminal 2 serves Air Canada, Alaska, Delta, Delta Shuttle, and JetBlue. Terminal 3 is the largest terminal, with 79 gates, and is the home of American Airlines and Spirit Airlines. Terminal 5 is the international terminal, with 21 gates, and is served by all major international airlines.
O'Hare's first major change occurred in the 1980s when TWA left Chicago for St. Louis as its main mid-continent hub. In the same decade, the South Cargo Area was relocated to allow for the OMP and runway 10R/28L. O'Hare became the first major airport to build an apiary on its property in 2011, hosting up to 75 hives and a million bees during the summer months. The airport is easily accessible via Interstate 190, which connects to other major roads and interstate highways.
O'Hare International Airport is a convenient choice for travellers, especially if your destination in Chicago is on the north side of the city. It is well-connected to the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Blue Line, providing easy access to the Logan Square area and the Loop in about 45 minutes. The airport also offers a Metra commuter train service and regional and airport shuttle buses.
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O'Hare has five terminals with a range of dining and shopping options
O'Hare International Airport (ORD) is one of the busiest airports in the country and the world, serving nearly 1,000 daily direct flights to and from domestic and international destinations. The airport is located on the northwest side of Chicago and is accessible by road, train, shuttle bus, taxi, rideshare, or car.
O'Hare has five terminals, each with a range of dining and shopping options. Terminal 1 offers a great variety, including local favorites like Tortas Frontera, sushi at Wicker Park, and sandwiches from Berghoff Café. Terminal 5 has a 24-hour Dunkin' Donuts for early birds, night owls, and everyone in between. The airport caters to all tastes, dietary needs, and schedules, with options ranging from deep dish pizza to sushi.
The airport's first air cargo facilities were located east of the terminal core, where Terminal 5 now stands. The South Cargo Area was relocated in the 1980s to accommodate the new runway 10R/28L, and it is now located between 10R/28L and 10C/28C. O'Hare currently has the most runways of any civilian airport in the world, with eight runways in total.
O'Hare also has some unique features, such as an on-site apiary with up to 75 hives and a million bees during the summer. The airport also has a nighttime noise abatement program and is connected to downtown Chicago via the Kennedy Expressway.
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O'Hare is accessible via the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Blue Line
Chicago has two major airports: O'Hare International Airport and Midway International Airport. O'Hare is one of the busiest airports in the country and in the world, serving nearly 1,000 daily direct flights to and from international and domestic destinations. O'Hare is accessible via the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Blue Line, as well as the Metra commuter train service. There are also regional and airport shuttle buses that serve the airport, and travellers can also take a taxi or rideshare, or drive their own car and park upon arrival.
O'Hare International Airport is located on the northwest side of Chicago and has four terminals. Terminal 1 airlines include ANA, Lufthansa, United, and United Express. Air Canada, Alaska, Delta, Delta Shuttle, and JetBlue fly from Terminal 2. Terminal 3 serves Air Choice One, American Airlines, American Airlines Shuttle, Cape Air, Iberia, Japan Airlines, and Spirit Airlines. O'Hare is directly served by Interstate 190, which offers interchanges with the Tri-State Tollway (Interstate 294), and Interstate 90.
O'Hare has the most runways of any civilian airport in the world, with eight in total. The airport also has a voluntary nighttime noise abatement program, which runs from 22:00 to 07:00. In addition to its impressive infrastructure, O'Hare became the first major airport to build an apiary on its property in 2011. Every summer, the apiary hosts as many as 75 hives and a million bees. The bees are maintained by ex-offenders, who are taught beekeeping and also benefit from the bees' labour, creating products such as honey, soaps, and candles.
Compared to O'Hare, Midway International Airport is much smaller, with just one main terminal and a fifth of the number of flights. While Midway does offer some international flights, O'Hare is the more likely destination for international travel.
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Frequently asked questions
O'Hare International Airport is Chicago's main airport and one of the busiest airports in the world.
O'Hare International Airport has four terminals, although some sources state that there are five.
Dozens of domestic and international airlines serve O'Hare, including Southwest, JetBlue, Delta, American, United, and Alaska Airlines.
You can get to O'Hare International Airport via the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Blue Line and the Metra commuter train service.
Parking rates at O'Hare start at $15 per day, but daily rates can range from $15 to $22 per day.
