
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (IATA: ORD) is the primary international airport serving Chicago, Illinois, United States. ORD is derived from the airport's former name, Orchard Field Airport. In 1949, the airport was renamed to honour Edward Butch O'Hare, the U.S. Navy's first flying ace and Medal of Honor recipient in World War II. As one of the busiest airports in the world, O'Hare is known for its innovative design, pioneering concepts such as concourses, direct highway access, jet bridges, and underground refueling systems.
Explore related products
What You'll Learn

O'Hare Airport is named after Edward Butch O'Hare, the U.S. Navy's first flying ace
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (IATA: ORD, ICAO: KORD, FAA LID: ORD) is named after Edward "Butch" O'Hare, the first flying ace of the U.S. Navy and recipient of the Medal of Honor during World War II. The airport, located approximately 17 miles (27 km) northwest of Chicago's Loop business district, is the primary international airport serving Chicago, Illinois.
O'Hare Airport was originally known as Orchard Field Airport, which was assigned the IATA code ORD in the mid-1940s. In 1949, the City of Chicago renamed the airport to honour Edward "Butch" O'Hare. Despite the name change, the airport retained its original IATA code, ORD, making it one of the few airports with an IATA code that does not directly correspond to its name.
Edward "Butch" O'Hare was a distinguished aviator and naval officer. During World War II, he became the U.S. Navy's first flying ace, achieving multiple aerial victories and becoming a celebrated war hero. For his exceptional valour and gallantry, O'Hare received the Medal of Honor, the highest military honour in the United States.
O'Hare Airport has become one of the busiest and most connected airports in the world. As of 2024, it is the most connected airport in the United States and the fifth most connected airport globally. O'Hare 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.
The airport has also been a pioneer in innovative design and infrastructure. O'Hare was the first airport to feature "split-finger terminals," allowing for efficient gate and plane arrangements. Additionally, the airport was the site of the world's first jet bridge in 1958 and incorporated seamless concrete runways using slip form paving techniques.
Exploring Boston Logan Airport: A Traveler's Guide
You may want to see also
Explore related products

ORD is the IATA code for O'Hare Airport
ORD is the IATA code for O'Hare International Airport, Chicago's largest and busiest airport. The airport is located 15 miles northwest of downtown Chicago and covers 7,627 acres. O'Hare Airport was named after Edward "Butch" O'Hare, the U.S. Navy's first flying ace and Medal of Honor recipient in World War II.
The IATA code ORD was assigned to the airport when it was called Orchard Field Airport in the mid-1940s. In 1949, the airport was renamed O'Hare Airport, but the IATA code remained unchanged. O'Hare Airport is one of the few airports with an IATA code that does not correspond to its name.
O'Hare Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world, ranking as the 4th busiest and 16th largest airport globally. It is the primary international airport serving Chicago, offering non-stop flights to 249 destinations across North America, South America, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and the North Atlantic region.
The airport is known for its innovative design, pioneering concepts such as concourses, direct highway access to the terminal, jet bridges, and underground refueling systems. O'Hare was also the site of the world's first jet bridge in 1958. Today, it continues to undergo expansion and improvement projects to accommodate increasing air traffic and larger aircraft.
With its extensive flight connections and strategic location, O'Hare International Airport (ORD) plays a crucial role in facilitating travel and connecting Chicago to destinations worldwide.
Airports and Child Identification: When and Where is it Needed?
You may want to see also
Explore related products

ORD was previously named Orchard Field Airport in the 1940s
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (IATA: ORD, ICAO: KORD, FAA LID: ORD) 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 is Chicago's largest and busiest airport.
O'Hare Airport was the first major airport planned after World War II. Its innovative design pioneered concepts such as concourses, direct highway access to the terminal, jet bridges, and underground refuelling systems. O'Hare became famous during the jet age, holding the distinction as the world's busiest airport by passenger traffic from 1963 to 1998. It still ranks as one of the busiest airports in the world, with 919,704 aircraft movements in 2019, averaging 2,520 per day.
O'Hare Airport is one of the most connected airports in the world, offering non-stop flights to 249 destinations across North America, South America, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and the North Atlantic region as of Summer 2024. With its vast network of flights and high passenger traffic, O'Hare plays a crucial role in connecting Chicago to the rest of the world.
Paris Airports: Locations and Travel Tips
You may want to see also
Explore related products

O'Hare is one of the busiest airports in the world
O'Hare International Airport (IATA: ORD) in Chicago, Illinois, is one of the busiest airports in the world. Located on the city's northwest side, approximately 15 miles from downtown Chicago, O'Hare is the primary international airport serving the city and its surrounding areas. As of 2024, O'Hare is considered the most connected airport in the US and the fifth most connected airport globally. It is also the world's fourth busiest airport by passenger traffic and the sixteenth largest airport in terms of area.
O'Hare's history as a busy airport dates back to World War II when it served as an airfield for a Douglas manufacturing plant producing C-54 military transports. In the post-war years, O'Hare's innovative design, which included concourses, direct highway access to the terminal, jet bridges, and underground refuelling systems, solidified its prominence. From 1963 to 1998, O'Hare held the distinction of being the world's busiest airport by passenger traffic.
The airport's efficient design facilitates seamless travel connections. O'Hare 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. The airport is well-connected to the city, with various transportation options available, including airport shuttles, buses, the Chicago "L", and taxis.
O'Hare continues to expand and enhance its infrastructure to accommodate increasing passenger traffic and aircraft movements. The airport has ongoing expansion projects, such as the O'Hare 21 project, which includes adding over 3 million square feet to the airport's terminals, constructing new concourses, increasing gate counts, and providing more ramp space. These developments aim to ensure that O'Hare remains one of the busiest and most efficient airports globally.
The IATA code ORD has an interesting history. The airport was originally named Orchard Field Airport in the mid-1940s and was assigned the code ORD. In 1949, it was renamed O'Hare Airport to honour Edward "Butch" O'Hare, the U.S. Navy's first flying ace and Medal of Honor recipient in World War II. Despite the name change, the airport code ORD was retained and has become well-known, with Chicago O'Hare International Airport being one of the world's prominent aviation hubs.
Adjusting Router Speed: Airport Edition
You may want to see also
Explore related products

O'Hare is Chicago's largest and busiest airport
O'Hare International Airport, also known by the IATA code ORD, is Chicago's largest and busiest airport. It is located on the Northwest Side of Chicago, approximately 14 to 17 miles from the Loop business district in downtown Chicago. The airport covers 7,627 acres of land and has four terminals.
O'Hare is one of the world's busiest airports, with a high volume of regional flights contributing to this status. It offers an extensive network of flights, providing non-stop services to numerous destinations across the globe. As of 2024, the airport facilitated non-stop flights to 249 locations across North America, South America, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and the North Atlantic region.
O'Hare has earned a reputation as a well-connected airport, ranking highly in global connectivity. In 2022, it was recognised as the world's most connected airport, a distinction it previously held in 2016. This recognition is attributed to its comprehensive portfolio of domestic and international air services, including routes to Tel Aviv, Auckland, and Barcelona.
The airport's design has played a significant role in its success. It was the first major airport planned after World War II, and its innovative features included concourses, direct highway access, jet bridges, and underground refuelling systems. O'Hare was also the site of the world's first jet bridge in 1958.
O'Hare International Airport is named after Edward "Butch" O'Hare, the U.S. Navy's first flying ace and a recipient of the Medal of Honor during World War II. The airport's IATA code, ORD, is a remnant of its previous name, Orchard Field Airport, which was assigned in the mid-1940s.
Airport Inbound Departure: What Does It Mean?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
ORD is Chicago O'Hare International Airport. The airport is named after Edward "Butch" O'Hare, the U.S. Navy's first flying ace and Medal of Honor recipient in World War II.
ORD is the IATA code for O'Hare Airport. In the mid-1940s, the airport was renamed Orchard Field Airport and assigned the code ORD. When the airport was renamed in 1949, the IATA code remained unchanged.
O'Hare Airport was designed to be the successor to Chicago's Midway International Airport. It began as an airfield serving a Douglas manufacturing plant for C-54 military transports during World War II.
O'Hare Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world. As of 2024, it is the most connected airport in the US and the 5th most connected airport in the world. It is also the 4th busiest airport and the 16th largest airport in the world.











































