The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) operates both O’Hare and Midway International Airports, offering service to more than 260 nonstop destinations worldwide, including 47 foreign countries, and serving more than 105 million passengers in 2019.
O’Hare, which opened in 1962 on the City’s far Northwest Side and essentially ushered in the “jet age” of air travel, has long been among the busiest airports in the world, and is in the early stages of the $8.5 billion O’Hare 21 terminal redevelopment program, which will create 60,000-plus construction jobs and cement O’Hare’s status for one of the world’s leading gateways.
Known as the “busiest square mile in aviation,” Midway is Chicago’s first airport, nestled in the City’s Southwest Side. Midway remains a key hub in Southwest Airline’s network and handles the same number of passengers each year as airports like San Diego and Tampa. The Midway Modernization Program, which is elevating the travel experience and reimagining the airport’s concessions offerings, is nearing completion.
Combined, these airports are a tremendous economic engine to the region, generating approximately $60 billion in annual economic impact and supporting more than 400,000 jobs. The airports are the gateways that connect Chicagoans to the world and bring the world to Chicago. Visit www.flychicago.com to learn more about these aviation powerhouses.