Lois Larson
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (IATA: ORD, ICAO: KORD, FAA LID: ORD) is one of the busiest airports in the world. The airport code ORD is derived from the site's previous name, Orchard Field Airport, which was renamed in 1949 to honour World War II naval aviator Lieutenant Commander Edward Butch O'Hare, a Medal of Honor recipient. O'Hare Airport offers non-stop flights to 249 destinations worldwide and is considered the most connected airport in the US.
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O'Hare Airport is one of the world's busiest airports
O'Hare International Airport (IATA: ORD, ICAO: KORD, FAA LID: ORD) is located on the northwest side of Chicago, Illinois, United States. The airport is approximately 17 miles (27 km) northwest of the Loop business district. O'Hare Airport is one of the world's busiest airports, ranking fourth in 2022 with 68.3 million passengers, a 26.5% increase from 2021. It is also the most connected airport in the US and the fifth most connected airport worldwide. 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's history dates back to the mid-1940s when it was known as Orchard Field Airport, with the IATA code ORD. The name was derived from its location on Orchard Place, formerly a Douglas manufacturing plant for C-54 military transports during World War II. In 1949, the airport was renamed after Lieutenant Commander Edward "Butch" O'Hare, a World War II naval aviator and the U.S. Navy's first Medal of Honor recipient.
O'Hare played a significant role during the jet age, holding the distinction as the world's busiest airport by passenger traffic from 1963 to 1998. The airport's innovative design included concourses, direct highway access to the terminal, jet bridges, and underground refueling systems. O'Hare's position in the middle of the North American continent makes it a critical hub for air traffic across the continent and the world.
To accommodate the increasing passenger traffic, O'Hare has undergone significant expansion and modernisation projects. The O'Hare Modernization Program has reduced avoidable delays and improved overall efficiency. Additionally, the airport has plans for further expansion, including the addition of over 3 million square feet to the terminal space, a new customs processing centre, and an increase in gate count from 185 to 235. These developments are expected to be completed by 2030, enhancing O'Hare's capacity and connectivity even further.
O'Hare International Airport's convenient location, efficient infrastructure, and extensive flight connections have solidified its reputation as one of the world's busiest and most influential aviation hubs.
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The airport is named after Lt. Cmdr. Edward H. Butch O'Hare
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (IATA: ORD, ICAO: KORD, FAA LID: ORD) is the primary international airport serving Chicago, Illinois, United States. The airport is named after Lt. Cmdr. Edward H. Butch O'Hare, a naval aviator and war hero who died in World War II.
O'Hare was the U.S. Navy's first Medal of Honor recipient during World War II. Born in St. Louis, O'Hare never actually lived in Chicago, although his father was an important figure in the city, helping the IRS put Al Capone behind bars. Butch O'Hare himself was often in town before the war.
The airport was originally known as Orchard Field Airport, or OrchaRD, which is where the airport code "ORD" comes from. The airfield served a Douglas manufacturing plant for C-54 military transports during World War II. In 1949, the airport was renamed to honour O'Hare, and it officially opened to commercial air traffic in 1955, serving 176,902 passengers in its first year.
O'Hare is currently one of the busiest airports in the world, ranking 4th in terms of passenger traffic. It has non-stop flights to 249 destinations across the globe and is considered the most connected airport in the US. The airport covers 7,627 acres and has an innovative design that includes concourses, direct highway access to the terminal, jet bridges, and underground refuelling systems.
O'Hare has continued to expand and upgrade its facilities over the years, with ongoing projects adding more terminals, gates, and ramp space to accommodate larger aircraft. The airport is easily accessible by airport shuttle, bus, the Chicago "L", or taxis.
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O'Hare Airport was originally called Orchard Field Airport
O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois, is one of the busiest airports in the world. The airport code for O'Hare is ORD, which stands for Orchard Field Airport, the airport's former name.
The site of O'Hare International Airport was originally an aircraft factory and airfield called Orchard Field, also known as Orchard Place. The airfield served a Douglas manufacturing plant for C-54 military transports during World War II. The "ORD" designation in the airport code is derived from the word "Orchard."
In 1945, the airport was renamed Orchard Field Airport, and the IATA code ORD was assigned. However, this name was short-lived, as in 1949, the airport was renamed O'Hare Field to honour Lieutenant Commander 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 officially opened to commercial air traffic in 1955 and has since become one of the most connected and busiest airports in the world. The airport is known for its innovative design, pioneering concepts such as concourses, direct highway access to the terminal, jet bridges, and underground refuelling systems.
Today, O'Hare International Airport offers non-stop flights to 249 destinations worldwide and handles a large volume of regional flights, contributing to its high ranking in airport traffic. The airport continues to expand and enhance its infrastructure to accommodate increasing passenger traffic and larger aircraft.
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The airport's IATA code is derived from its former name
O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois, is one of the busiest airports in the world. Its IATA code, ORD, is derived from its former name, Orchard Field Airport. The airport was originally an aircraft factory known as Orchard Place, and later became a commercial airfield, keeping the Orchard Field name. The "ORD" designation is a nod to the airport's history, with "Orchard" spelled out in the three-letter code.
The Orchard Field site has a rich history. During World War II, it served as an airfield for a Douglas manufacturing plant producing C-54 military transports. In 1945, it officially became Orchard Field Airport, and the IATA code ORD was assigned. The United States Air Force extensively used the field during the Korean War as a fighter base.
In 1949, the airport was renamed O'Hare Airport to honour World War II naval aviator and Chicago native, Lieutenant Commander Edward "Butch" O'Hare, who was the U.S. Navy's first Medal of Honor recipient during that war. Despite his accolades, O'Hare himself never actually lived in Chicago; however, his father was an important figure in the city, aiding the IRS in their efforts to imprison Al Capone.
O'Hare officially opened to commercial air traffic in 1955, serving 176,902 passengers in its first year. The airport has since become one of the most prominent aviation hubs globally, offering non-stop flights to 249 destinations across the world as of Summer 2024. O'Hare's innovative design includes concourses, direct highway access to the terminal, jet bridges, and underground refuelling systems.
The airport's IATA code, ORD, is a lasting reminder of its former identity as Orchard Field Airport, reflecting the evolution of this critical aviation hub.
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O'Hare Airport is located in Chicago, Illinois, US
O'Hare International Airport (IATA: ORD, ICAO: KORD, FAA LID: ORD) is located in Chicago, Illinois, US. It is the primary international airport serving Chicago, 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).
O'Hare Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world. In 2019, O'Hare had 919,704 aircraft movements, averaging 2,520 per day, the most of any airport in the world, partly due to a large number of regional flights. As of 2024, O'Hare is considered the most connected airport in the US and the fifth most connected airport in the world. It is also the world's fourth busiest airport and the 16th largest airport.
O'Hare Airport was built on a site called Orchard Field, also known as Orchard Place. The IATA code ORD is a nod to the airfield's history, derived from "Orchard" Field Airport. The airport was renamed in 1949 to honour World War II naval aviator Lieutenant Commander Edward "Butch" O'Hare, a Medal of Honor recipient from Chicago.
O'Hare Airport officially opened to commercial air traffic in 1955 and served 176,902 passengers in its first year. As the first major airport planned after World War II, O'Hare's innovative design pioneered concepts such as concourses, direct highway access to the terminals, jet bridges, and underground refuelling systems.
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Frequently asked questions
O'Hare Airport was built on a site called Orchard Field, also known as Orchard Place, so the designation "ORD" comes from Orchard, or OrchaRD.
O'Hare Airport was originally an aircraft factory and later became a commercial airfield known as Orchard Field Airport. In 1949, the airport was renamed O'Hare Field to honour World War II naval aviator and war hero Edward "Butch" O'Hare. O'Hare officially opened to commercial air traffic in 1955 and is now one of the busiest airports in the world.
O'Hare Airport is located in Chicago, Illinois, US, approximately 17 miles (27 km) northwest of the Loop business district.
