O'hare Airport: Why Ord?

Chicago O'Hare International Airport (IATA: ORD) is located on the city's Northwest Side, approximately 16-17 miles from the Loop business district. The airport was renamed O'Hare in 1949 after aviator Edward Butch O'Hare, the U.S. Navy's first Medal of Honor recipient during World War II. However, its IATA code ORD remains unchanged, bearing no connection to the airport's name or metropolitan area. O'Hare is one of the busiest airports in the world, with non-stop flights to numerous destinations across the globe. It has the most runways of any civilian airport in the world, with eight runways in total.

O'Hare Airport is named after Edward Butch O'Hare, a US Navy flying ace

O'Hare Airport in Chicago is named after Edward "Butch" O'Hare, a US Navy flying ace and the Navy's first recipient of the Medal of Honor during World War II. The airport, officially known as Chicago O'Hare International Airport (IATA: ORD, ICAO: KORD, FAA LID: ORD), is located on the city's northwest side, approximately 16-17 miles from the downtown Loop business district.

O'Hare Airport was originally known as Orchard Field Airport, which was assigned the IATA code ORD in the mid-1940s. The airport was renamed in 1949 to honour Edward "Butch" O'Hare, who was not just a flying ace but also the first US Navy aviator to receive the Medal of Honor during World War II. O'Hare Airport's IATA code ORD remained unchanged, despite the name change, resulting in a rare instance where the airport code does not directly correspond to its name or location.

Edward "Butch" O'Hare was a celebrated figure in American military history. Before his heroic actions during World War II, O'Hare was already an accomplished aviator. Born in 1914, he joined the US Navy in 1933 and later became a naval aviator, demonstrating exceptional skill and bravery. O'Hare's most notable achievement occurred during World War II when he risked his life to defend the aircraft carrier USS Lexington against an attacking force of Japanese bombers. His valiant efforts earned him the Medal of Honor, the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government.

The decision to name the airport after Edward "Butch" O'Hare was a fitting tribute to his courage and service. O'Hare Airport has since become a major international aviation hub, serving Chicago and the surrounding region. It offers non-stop flights to numerous destinations worldwide and is recognised as one of the busiest airports globally, both in terms of passenger traffic and aircraft movements.

ORD is the IATA code for O'Hare Airport

The 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, and the airfield was known as Douglas Airport. After the war, the complex was renamed Orchard Field Airport and was assigned the IATA code ORD. In 1949, the airport was renamed O'Hare Airport after 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 IATA code ORD remained unchanged, resulting in O'Hare being one of the few airports where the IATA code does not bear any connection to the airport's name or metropolitan area. O'Hare Airport has a rich history and has undergone significant development and expansion over the years. It is known for its innovative design, including concourses, direct highway access to the terminal, jet bridges, and underground refuelling systems.

O'Hare is the fourth busiest airport in the US

Chicago O'Hare International Airport, also known by its IATA code ORD, is the fourth busiest airport in the United States. In 2022, O'Hare was the fourth busiest airport in the world, with 68.3 million passengers, according to preliminary global air traffic figures. O'Hare is a major international airport serving Chicago, Illinois, and is located approximately 16-17 miles northwest of the Loop business district. It is operated by the Chicago Department of Aviation and covers 7,627 acres of land.

O'Hare has non-stop flights to 249 destinations across the world, including North America, South America, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and the North Atlantic region. The airport is a hub for American and United Airlines and has the most runways (eight) of any international airport in the world. O'Hare was designed to be the successor to Chicago's Midway International Airport, which was once nicknamed the "busiest square mile in the world."

O'Hare became famous during the jet age, holding the distinction of being the world's busiest airport by passenger traffic from 1963 to 1998. It still ranks as one of the busiest airports globally, according to the Airports Council International rankings. In 2019, O'Hare had 919,704 aircraft movements, averaging 2,520 per day, the most of any airport in the world. This high number of aircraft movements is partly due to a large number of regional flights.

O'Hare has four numbered passenger terminals with nine lettered concourses and a total of 213 gates, the most of any airport in the world. The airport offers various ground transportation options, including the Airport Transit System, shuttle buses, the Chicago "L", taxis, and interstate road access.

O'Hare has eight runways, the most of any civilian airport in the world

Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) is a major international airport serving Chicago, Illinois, United States. It is located on the city's northwest side, approximately 16-17 miles from the downtown Loop business district. ORD is the fourth busiest airport in the US and the seventh largest airport in the country. It is also the busiest airport in the world by flights and has the most runways of any civilian airport in the world, totalling eight.

The airport was first established during World War II as a manufacturing plant for Douglas C-54 Skymasters. The site was previously a small German-American farming community known as Orchard Place. Over 650 C-54s were built at the plant, more than half of all produced. The airfield, known as Douglas Airport, initially had four 5,500-foot runways.

In 1945, Chicago mayor Edward Kelly established a board to choose the site of a new airport to meet future aviation demands. The Orchard Field site was selected in March 1946, and the airport underwent significant expansion and redesign, including the addition of concourse structures, jet bridges, underground fuelling infrastructure, and highway and rail access.

The airport was renamed O'Hare Airport in 1949, in honour of Edward "Butch" O'Hare, the US Navy's first flying ace and Medal of Honor recipient in World War II. O'Hare's innovative design pioneered several concepts, including direct highway access to the terminal and underground refuelling systems.

Passenger service at O'Hare began in 1955, but growth was initially slow, as airlines were reluctant to move from the busier Midway Airport. However, with the introduction of larger jet aircraft, such as the Boeing 707 and Douglas DC-8, many airlines relocated to O'Hare, as Midway Airport could not accommodate these larger jets.

O'Hare's infrastructure has continued to expand over the years, with terminal expansions driven by the dominant airlines at the airport. In the mid-1980s, United Airlines built a new Terminal 1, designed by Helmut Jahn, and American Airlines expanded Terminal 3. A major new international terminal, now Terminal 5, was added in 1993.

O'Hare's runways have also undergone changes. By 1971, the airport had seven runways occupying a large area. However, as airport traffic increased, the intersecting runways became a problem, as they could not be used simultaneously. To address this issue, a major redevelopment project was proposed in 2001, which changed the runway patterns to six parallel runways and two crosswind runways. The redesign was completed in 2021, improving efficiency and accommodating the high volume of air traffic at O'Hare.

O'Hare is located 16-17 miles from downtown Chicago

O'Hare International Airport is located 16-17 miles from downtown Chicago. It is situated on the city's Northwest Side, approximately 17 miles northwest of the Loop business district. The airport covers 7,627 acres and is considered the most connected airport in the US, as well as the fourth busiest. O'Hare has non-stop flights to 249 destinations across the world and is a hub for major airlines such as American Airlines and United Airlines.

The airport's location was carefully chosen to meet the growing demand for air travel in Chicago. O'Hare was initially a manufacturing plant for Douglas C-54 Skymasters during World War II. The site, known as Orchard Place, was previously a small German-American farming community. The plant needed easy access to the workforce, railroads, and a location far from enemy threats. After the war, the city of Chicago realised the need for more airport capacity and selected the Orchard Field site for its new airport.

O'Hare's distance from downtown Chicago provides several advantages. Firstly, it allows for a large area to accommodate the airport's extensive infrastructure. The airport covers a significant amount of land, with its eight runways and vast terminal buildings. Additionally, the distance provides a buffer zone for noise reduction for the surrounding residential and commercial areas.

The location also offers convenient transportation options. O'Hare is accessible via the Kennedy Expressway (Interstate 190), which provides a direct route to the airport from downtown Chicago. The airport is also served by the Chicago "L" train system, with the Blue Line providing a direct connection to the city centre. This efficient ground transportation network enhances the airport's connectivity and accessibility for passengers and employees.

Furthermore, the airport's location on the outskirts of the city allows for future expansion. O'Hare has undergone several expansion projects, including the addition of new terminals and concourses. The airport's master plan, known as O'Hare 21, involves the construction of new satellite concourses, the expansion of existing terminals, and the optimisation of the terminal core. This ongoing development ensures that O'Hare can accommodate increasing air traffic demand and maintain its status as one of the world's leading airports.

Frequently asked questions