| Chicago O'Hare International Airport | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| USGS aerial image, 2011 | |||
| IATA: ORD – ICAO: KORD – FAA LID: ORD | |||
| Summary | |||
| Airport type | Public | ||
| Owner | City of Chicago | ||
| Operator | Chicago Airport System | ||
| Serves | Chicago, Illinois, USA | ||
| Hub for | |||
| Elevation AMSL | 668 ft / 204 m | ||
| Coordinates | |||
| Website | |||
| Map | |||
|
ORD
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| Runways | |||
| Direction | Length | Surface | |
| ft | m | ||
| 4L/22R | 7,500 | 2,286 | Asphalt |
| 4R/22L | 8,075 | 2,461 | Asphalt |
| 9L/27R | 7,500 | 2,286 | Concrete |
| 9R/27L | 7,967 | 2,428 | Asphalt/Concrete |
| 10/28 | 13,001 | 3,962 | Asphalt/Concrete |
| 14L/32R | 10,005 | 3,050 | Asphalt |
| 14R/32L | 9,685 | 2,952 | Asphalt/Concrete |
| Helipads | |||
| Number | Length | Surface | |
| ft | m | ||
| H1 | 200 | 61 | Concrete |
| Statistics (2010) | |||
| Passenger volume | 66,665,390 | ||
| Sources: FAA[1] and airport's website.[2] | |||
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (IATA: ORD, ICAO: KORD, FAA LID: ORD), also known as O'Hare Airport, O'Hare Field, Chicago Airport, Chicago International Airport, or simply O'Hare, is a major airport located in the northwestern-most corner of Chicago, Illinois, United States, 17 miles (27 km) northwest of the Chicago Loop. It is the primary airport serving the Chicago area, with Chicago Midway International Airport, about 10 miles (16 km) closer to the Loop, serving as a secondary airport for domestic flights.
United Airlines (including United Express) is the largest airline at O'Hare, carrying over 45% of passengers. O'Hare is the second-largest hub for United Airlines after Houston-Bush. American Airlines (including American Eagle) has the second largest operation at O'Hare, carrying 37.08% of passengers. O'Hare is its second-largest hub after Dallas/Fort Worth.[3]
Prior to 2005, O'Hare was the world's busiest airport in terms of takeoffs and landings. Mainly due to limits imposed by the federal government to reduce flight delays at O'Hare,[4] Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport became the busiest by that metric in 2005. O'Hare is now the third busiest airport in the world with 66,665,390 passengers passing through the airport in 2010, a +3.3% change from 2009.[5] It is the world's second busiest airport in terms of aircraft movements. In 2008, the airport had 881,566 aircraft operations, an average of 2,409 per day (64% scheduled commercial, 33% air taxi, 3% general aviation and <1% military).[1] O'Hare has a strong international presence, with flights to more than 60 foreign destinations: it is the fourth busiest international gateway in the United States behind John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City, Los Angeles International Airport and Miami International Airport.
O’Hare has been voted the "Best Airport in North America" for 10 years by two separate sources: Readers of the U.S. Edition of Business Traveler Magazine (1998–2003) and Global Traveler Magazine (2004–2007).[6] Travel and Leisure magazine's 2009 "America's Favorite Cities" ranked Chicago's Airport System (O'Hare and Midway) the second-worst for delays, New York City's airport system (JFK, Newark Liberty, and LaGuardia) being the first.[7] O'Hare currently accounts for over a sixth of the nation's total flight cancellations.[8]
It is operated by the City of Chicago Department of Aviation, associated with an umbrella regional authority. Most of O'Hare Airport is in Cook County, but a section of the southwest part of the airport is in DuPage County. The Cook County portion is located within a section of the city of Chicago contiguously connected to the rest of the city via a narrow strip of land about 200 feet (61 m) wide, running along Foster Ave. from the Des Plaines River to the airport. This land was annexed into the city limits in the 1950s to assure the massive tax revenue associated with the airport being part of the city. The strip is bounded on the north by Rosemont and the south by Schiller Park.[9]
The airport is named after Edward O'Hare, the U.S. Navy's first flying ace and Medal of Honor recipient in World War II.
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The airport was constructed in 1942–43 as a manufacturing plant for Douglas C-54s during World War II.[10] The site was chosen for its proximity to the city and transportation.[10] The two million square-foot (180,000 m²) factory needed easy access to the workforce of the nation's then-second-largest city, as well as its extensive railroad infrastructure. Orchard Place was a small nearby farming community.[10]
Douglas Company's contract ended in 1945 and though plans were proposed to build commercial aircraft, the company ultimately chose to concentrate production on the west coast. With the departure of Douglas, the airport took the name Orchard Field Airport, the source of its three-letter IATA code ORD.
In 1945, the facility was chosen by the city of Chicago as the site for a facility to meet future aviation demands. Matthew Laflin Rockwell (1915–1988) was the director of planning for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and responsible for the site selection and design of O'Hare International Airport. He was the great grandson of Matthew Laflin, a founder and pioneer of Chicago. The airport was renamed to "O'Hare International Airport" in 1949.
By the early 1950s Chicago Midway International Airport, Chicago's primary airport since 1931, had become too crowded despite multiple expansions and could not handle the planned first generation of jets. The city of Chicago and the FAA began to develop O'Hare as the main airport for Chicago's future.
In 1953, while traveling to an airshow at Naval Air Station Glenview in Chicago, Illinois, Blue Angels pilot LT Harding MacKnight experienced an engine flameout in his F7U Cutlass, forcing him to make an emergency landing at NAS Glenview. Traveling with him, LT "Whitey" Feightner was redirected to make his landing at O'Hare. The runway had just been completed and was covered with peach baskets to prevent aircraft from landing until it was opened. LT Feightner was told to ignore the baskets and land on the new runway. As a result, LT Feightner's F7U became the first aircraft to land on the new runway for O'Hare International Airport.
Commercial passenger flights started in 1955 and by the following year O'Hare was served by American, BOAC, Braniff, Capital, Delta, Eastern, North Central, Pan Am, TWA and United, along with freight airlines Riddle and Slick.[11] O'Hare also opened a $1 million "Skymotive" terminal for corporate aircraft in 1955, the first of its kind.[12]
Growth was slow at first. By 1957 Chicago had invested over $25 million in O'Hare, but Midway remained the world's busiest airport and airlines were reluctant to relocate all of their services to O'Hare until better highway access and other capital improvements were completed.[13] The April 1957 Official Airline Guide shows 10 weekday departures on United, 9 on American, 6 on Capital, 3 Eastern, 3 TWA, 2 Delta, 2 North Central, and 1 Braniff. Also three weekly Pan Am and one weekly BOAC (Air France and Lufthansa were at Midway). O'Hare's first dedicated international terminal opened in August 1958. By April 1959 the airport had expanded to 7,200 acres (29 km2) with new hangars, terminals, parking and other facilities. The expressway link to downtown Chicago was completed in 1960.[11]
All fixed-wing scheduled airline service in Chicago moved from Midway to O'Hare by July 1962. President John F. Kennedy attended a dedication ceremony in 1963.[11] The arrival of Midway's former traffic quickly made O'Hare the world's busiest airport, serving 10 million passengers annually. Within two years that number would double, with more people passing through O'Hare in 12 months than Ellis Island had processed in its entire existence. In late 1972, Chicago city officials reached an agreement with airlines to shift some services back to Midway in order to ease the overcrowding at O'Hare.[14] Despite this, O'Hare remained the world's busiest airport through the 1970s and 1980s.[15] In the late 1970s Midway was nearly abandoned; it enjoyed a revival after startup carrier Midway Airlines began low-cost service there in 1979-80.[16]
| Midway | O'Hare | |
|---|---|---|
| 1958 | 337421 | 66205 |
| 1959 | 345170 | 82417 |
| 1960 | 298582 | 163351 |
| 1961 | 187978 | 235908 |
| 1962 | 46873 | 331090 |
| 1963 | 19054 | 358266 |
| 1964 | 19017 | 389640 |
| 1965 | 16716 | 443026 |
| 1966 | 5090 | 478644 |
| 1967 | 4427 | 573506 |
| 1968 | 26941 | 628632 |
| 1969 | 31394 | 632030 |
| 1970 | 43553 | 598973 |
| 1971 | 51734 | 565826 |
Prior to airline deregulation in 1978, a number of major airlines had focused operations at O'Hare.
American Airlines, United Airlines and Trans World Airlines operated numerous routes to the West Coast, Northeast and Midwest, and TWA also served Europe nonstop from Chicago.[17][18][19] Northwest Orient Airlines offered flights to the Northeast, Pacific Northwest, Florida and Hawaii, as well as service through Alaska to Japan and the Far East.[20] Delta Air Lines served destinations in the Southeast and Midwest.[21]
During this era, Terminal 1 was used for international flights. Terminal 2 (concourses D, E and F) served United, Ozark, Braniff, Eastern, Northwest, Continental and Piedmont. In Terminal 3, Concourse G served TWA and Air Canada, and Concourses H and K served American, Delta and North Central (later merged into Republic Airlines).
In the 1980s, after deregulation, TWA replaced Chicago with St. Louis as its main mid-continent hub.[22] Northwest likewise shifted to a Minneapolis and Detroit-centered network by the early 1990s following its acquisition of Republic Airlines in 1986.[23]
United and American both established nationwide hubs at the airport in the 1980s which continue to operate today. United developed a new Terminal 1 designed by Helmut Jahn, which was built between 1985 and 1987 on the site of the old international terminal. American renovated its existing facilities in Terminal 3 by 1990. Delta maintained a Chicago hub for some time, and opened a new Concourse L in Terminal 3 (initially known as the "Delta Flight Center") in 1983, but ultimately closed its Chicago hub in the 1990s.
Due to the construction of Terminal 1 for United, international flights were relocated to a temporary Terminal 4 from 1984 until 1993. Terminal 4 was located on the ground floor of the main parking garage; international passengers would check in there and be taken directly to their aircraft by bus. A new Terminal 5 opened in 1993 to handle all international arrivals and many international departures. Since the opening of Terminal 5, Terminal 4 has been changed into the airport's facility for CTA buses, hotel shuttles, and other ground transportation; the T4 designation may be used again in the future as new terminals are developed. The CTA Blue Line was extended to the airport in 1984.[11]
Total annual passenger volume at O'Hare reached 30 million in 1968, 40 million in 1976, 60 million in 1990 and 70 million in 1997.[11]
Delta moved from Terminal 3 to Terminal 2 in 2009 in order to align its operations with merger partner Northwest Airlines. Continental moved from Terminal 2 to Terminal 1 in 2010 as part of its merger with United Airlines.[24]
The original Douglas Aircraft C-54 Skymaster transport manufacturing plant on the northeast side of the airport became a United States Air Force Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve facility after World War II. It was used by the USAF from 1947 until 1999 as O'Hare Air Reserve Station, making the airport a joint civil-military airfield during this period.
The 1993 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission recommended the closure of O'Hare Air Reserve Station as proposed by the municipal government of the City of Chicago and the transfer of both the Illinois Air National Guard's 126th Air Refueling Wing (126 ARW) and its KC-135 aircraft, and the Air Force Reserve Command's 928th Airlift Wing (928 AW) and its C-130 aircraft to new facilities to be constructed at Scott AFB, Illinois. The 126 ARW moved from the former O'Hare Air Reserve Station at O'Hare International Airport to Scott AFB, Illinois in 1999 as recommended by the Base Realignment and Closure Commission's Report to Congress in conjunction with the closure of the Air Force Reserve Command and Air National Guard facilities at O'Hare. Instead of moving to Scott AFB, subsequent BRAC action directed that the 928 AW be inactivated and its C-130 aircraft reallocated to other Air Force, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard units.
Following the closure of the O'Hare Air Reserve Station, the former USAF facilities were redeveloped for air cargo and general aviation. Today, Signature Flight Support services private aircraft in this area.
1057 fatalities have occurred as a result of accidents en route to or from Chicago O'Hare.[25]
O'Hare has four numbered passenger terminals with nine lettered concourses and a total of 182 aircraft gates. Two or more additional terminal buildings are envisioned; there is the possibility of a large terminal complex for the west side of the field, with access from I-90 and/or the Elgin-O'Hare Expressway, if the runway reconfiguration is completed and passenger numbers require additional terminals.
Note: All international arrivals at O'Hare (except flights from destinations with border preclearance) are handled at Terminal 5.
Terminal 1 houses the hub of United Airlines and departures for some of its Star Alliance partners. It has 53 gates on two concourses:
Concourses B and C are linear concourses located in separate buildings parallel to each other. Concourse B is adjacent to the airport roadway and houses passenger check-in, baggage claim and security screening on its landside and aircraft gates on its airside. Concourse C is a satellite concourse with gates on all sides. Passengers transit between the two concourses via a pedestrian tunnel under the tarmac and are treated to a neon light show and music while riding on moving walkways.
United Airlines runs a post-security shuttle service between Concourse C (Gate C-9) and Concourses E & F (Gate E-2A) in Terminal 2. United operates three United Clubs in Terminal 1 (two in Concourse B, one in Concourse C) as well as a United First International Lounge and United Arrivals Suite in Concourse C.
Terminal 1 houses All Nippon Airways's Chicago office.[43]
Terminal 2 houses US Airways and Delta Air Lines. United Express also operates a number of flights from Terminal 2, but check-in for these flights is conducted in Terminal 1. Terminal 2 has 38 gates on two concourses:
United Airlines runs a United Club in Concourse F near gate F4A, while Delta has a SkyClub on Concourse E.
Terminal 3 houses the American Airlines hub, as well as departing flights for certain oneworld alliance carriers and unaffiliated domestic low-cost carriers. Terminal 3 has 80 gates on four concourses:
Concourse G primarily houses American Eagle operations, while concourses H and K house American mainline operations, and concourse L, the previous home of Delta, now primarily houses low-cost carrier operations. Terminal 3 has two American Airlines Admirals Clubs and a Flagship Lounge.
All international arrivals at O'Hare (excluding flights from destinations with U.S. border preclearance) are processed at Terminal 5, which also handles most non-US carriers and certain domestic low-cost carriers. Terminal 5 has 21 gates on one concourse (Concourse M).
Terminal 5 houses a number of airline lounges including the Aer Lingus Gold Circle Club, Air France Lounge, Alitalia Sala Freccia Alata, British Airways Lounge, Korean Air Lounge, SAS Business Lounge and Swiss Lounge.
| Airlines | Destinations | Terminal/ Concourse |
|---|---|---|
| Aer Lingus | Dublin | 5M |
| Aeroméxico | Guadalajara, Mexico City Sesonal: Morelia |
5M |
| Aeroméxico Connect | Durango, Leon/El Bajio, Monterrey Seasonal: Zacatecas |
5M |
| Air Canada | Montréal-Trudeau, Toronto-Pearson | 2E |
| Air Canada Express operated by Jazz Air | Montréal-Trudeau, Toronto-Pearson | 2E |
| Air Choice One | Burlington (IA), Decatur | 3L |
| Air France | Seasonal: Paris-Charles de Gaulle[44] | 5M |
| Air India | Delhi, Hyderabad | 5M |
| Alaska Airlines | Anchorage, Portland (OR), Seattle/Tacoma | 3L |
| Alitalia | Seasonal: Rome-Fiumicino[45] | 5M |
| All Nippon Airways | Tokyo-Narita | 1C |
| American Airlines | Austin, Beijing-Capital, Boston, Dallas/Fort Worth, Delhi, Denver, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Kansas City, Las Vegas, London-Heathrow, Los Angeles, Manchester (UK), Mexico City, Miami, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New Orleans, New York-JFK, New York-LaGuardia, Orange County, Orlando, Paris-Charles de Gaulle , Philadelphia, Phoenix, Raleigh/Durham, Reno/Tahoe, St. Louis, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose (CA), San Juan, Seattle/Tacoma, Shanghai-Pudong, Tampa, Tokyo-Narita, Tucson, Tulsa, Washington-National, West Palm Beach Seasonal: Anchorage, Calgary, Cancún, Cozumel, Dublin, Eagle/Vail, El Paso, Hayden/Steamboat Springs, Helsinki, Honolulu, Jackson Hole, Montego Bay, Newark, Palm Springs, Puerto Vallarta, Rome-Fiumicino, San José del Cabo, Toronto-Pearson |
3H, 3K, 3L |
| AmericanConnection operated by Chautauqua Airlines | Bloomington/Normal, Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, Dubuque, Flint, Fort Wayne, Grand Rapids, Indianapolis, Kalamazoo, La Crosse, Louisville, Madison, Milwaukee, Moline/Quad Cities, Oklahoma City, Peoria, Rochester (MN), Toledo, Wausau/Stevens Point, White Plains | 3L |
| American Eagle | Albuquerque, Atlanta, Baltimore, Blountville/Tri-Cities, Buffalo, Calgary [ends January 31], Champaign/Urbana, Charlotte, Charlottesville, Chattanooga, Cleveland, Columbus (OH), Dayton, Denver, Des Moines, Detroit, Dubuque, Evansville, Fargo, Fayetteville (AR), Grand Rapids, Green Bay, Harrisburg, Hartford, Houston-Intercontinental, Huntsville, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Kalamazoo, Kansas City, Kitchener/Waterloo [begins June 14, 2012][46], Knoxville, La Crosse, Lexington, Little Rock, Madison, Manhattan (KS), Marquette, Memphis, Milwaukee, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Montréal-Trudeau, Nashville, New Orleans, Newark, Oklahoma City, Omaha, Ottawa, Pensacola, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Raleigh/Durham, Rapid City, Richmond, Rochester (MN), Rochester (NY), Salt Lake City, San Antonio, Sioux Falls, Springfield (MO), Syracuse, Toledo, Toronto-Pearson, Traverse City, Tulsa, Washington-National, Watertown (NY), Wichita, Wilmington (NC) Seasonal: El Paso |
3G, 3H |
| Asiana Airlines | Seoul-Incheon | 5M |
| British Airways | London-Heathrow | 5M |
| Cayman Airways | Seasonal: Grand Cayman | 5M |
| Cathay Pacific | Hong Kong | 5M |
| Copa Airlines | Panama City | 5M |
| Delta Air Lines | Atlanta, Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul Seasonal: Salt Lake City |
2E |
| Delta Air Lines | Seasonal: Paris-Charles de Gaulle | 5M |
| Delta Connection operated by Chautauqua Airlines | Memphis | 2E |
| Delta Connection operated by Comair | Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York-JFK | 2E |
| Delta Connection operated by Compass Airlines | Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul | 2E |
| Delta Connection operated by ExpressJet | Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis/St. Paul | 2E |
| Delta Connection operated by Mesaba Airlines | Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York-JFK, Salt Lake City | 2E |
| Delta Connection operated by Pinnacle Airlines | Atlanta, Minneapolis/St. Paul | 2E |
| Delta Connection operated by Shuttle America | Atlanta, Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York-LaGuardia | 2E |
| Delta Connection operated by SkyWest Airlines | Salt Lake City | 2E |
| Etihad Airways | Abu Dhabi | 5M |
| Frontier Airlines | Huatulco, Montego Bay, Liberia CR [begins January 13, 2012] Puerto Vallarta [begins January 31, 2012], Punta Cana [begins January 9, 2012], San José del Cabo [begins February 12, 2012] | 5M |
| Iberia | Madrid | 3K |
| Japan Airlines | Tokyo-Narita | 3K |
| JetBlue Airways | Boston, Long Beach, New York-JFK | 3L |
| KLM | Amsterdam | 5M |
| Korean Air | Seoul-Incheon | 5M |
| LOT Polish Airlines | Warsaw | 5M |
| Lufthansa | Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Munich | 1B |
| Pakistan International Airlines | Barcelona, Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore | 5M |
| Royal Jordanian | Amman-Queen Alia | 5M |
| Scandinavian Airlines | Copenhagen, Stockholm-Arlanda | 5M |
| Spirit Airlines | Boston, Dallas/Fort Worth, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York-LaGuardia, Orlando Seasonal: Atlantic City, Myrtle Beach |
3L |
| Swiss International Air Lines | Zürich | 5M |
| TACA Airlines | Guatemala City, San Salvador | 5M |
| Turkish Airlines | Istanbul-Atatürk | 5M |
| United Airlines | Albany, Amsterdam, Atlanta, Baltimore, Beijing-Capital, Boise, Boston, Brussels, Buffalo, Calgary, Cancún, Charlotte, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, Cleveland, Columbus (OH), Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Des Moines, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, Frankfurt, Grand Rapids, Guam, Harrisburg, Hartford/Springfield, Hong Kong, Honolulu, Houston-Intercontinental, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Kona, Las Vegas, London-Heathrow, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Munich, New Orleans, New York-LaGuardia, Newark, Omaha, Orange County, Orlando, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Portland (OR), Providence, Puerto Vallarta, Raleigh/Durham, Richmond, Rochester (NY), Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, San Juan, São Paulo-Guarulhos, Seattle/Tacoma, Shanghai-Pudong, Singapore, St. Thomas, Tampa, Tokyo-Narita, Toronto-Pearson, Vancouver, Washington-Dulles, Washington-National Seasonal: Anchorage, Aruba, Bozeman, Cozumel, Jackson Hole, Kahului, Liberia (Costa Rica), Miami, Montego Bay, Palm Springs, Punta Cana, Rapid City, St. Maarten, San José del Cabo, West Palm Beach |
1B, 1C |
| United Express operated by Chautauqua Airlines | Cleveland | 1B |
| United Express operated by Colgan Air | Cleveland | 1B |
| United Express operated by ExpressJet | Akron/Canton, Albany, Allentown/Bethlehem, Appleton, Atlanta, Baltimore, Birmingham (AL), Bismarck, Buffalo, Burlington (VT), Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, Charlotte, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, Cleveland, Columbia (SC), Columbus (OH), Dayton, Des Moines, Detroit, Fargo, Fayetteville (AR), Grand Rapids, Green Bay, Greensboro, Greenville/Spartanburg, Harrisburg, Hartford, Huntsville, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Knoxville, Lansing, Lexington, Lincoln, Little Rock, Louisville, Madison, Manchester (NH), Memphis, Montréal-Trudeau, Nashville, Newark, Norfolk, Oklahoma City, Ottawa, Pensacola, Peoria, Pittsburgh, Portland (ME), Providence, Raleigh/Durham, Rapid City, Richmond, Roanoke, Rochester (NY), Savannah, Sioux Falls, South Bend, Springfield (MO), Syracuse, Toronto-Pearson, Traverse City, Tulsa, Wausau/Stevens Point, Wichita, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton | 1B, 1C, 2E*, 2F* |
| United Express operated by GoJet Airlines | Albany, Austin, Baltimore, Boise, Bozeman, Burlington (VT), Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, Dayton, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Greensboro,Hartford, Jacksonville, Kansas City,Madison, Manchester (NH), Moline/Quad Cities, Montréal-Trudeau, New Orleans, Norfolk, Oklahoma City, Omaha, Philadelphia, Portland (ME), Providence, Richmond, Rochester (NY), St. Louis, San Antonio, Syracuse, Toronto-Pearson, Tulsa | 1B, 1C, 2F |
| United Express operated by Mesa Airlines | Austin, Buffalo, Burlington (VT), Charleston (SC), Charlotte, Dallas/Fort Worth, Dayton, Des Moines, Detroit, Harrisburg, Hartford, Houston-Intercontinental, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Madison, Memphis, Miami, Nashville, Norfolk, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Portland (ME), Raleigh/Durham, Rochester (NY), San Antonio, Savannah, South Bend, Syracuse Seasonal: Grand Rapids |
1B, 1C, 2E*, 2F* |
| United Express operated by Shuttle America | Albuquerque, Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Buffalo, Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, Charlotte, Columbus (OH), Dallas/Fort Worth, Des Moines, Detroit, Edmonton, Fort Myers, Grand Rapids, Halifax, Hartford, Houston-Intercontinental, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Louisville, Miami, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Moline/Quad Cities, Montréal-Trudeau, New Orleans, New York-LaGuardia, Newark, Norfolk, Omaha, Ottawa, Pittsburgh, Quebec City, Raleigh/Durham, Rochester (NY), St. Louis, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, South Bend, Toronto-Pearson, Washington-National, White Plains Seasonal: Myrtle Beach, Spokane, |
1B, 1C |
| United Express operated by SkyWest Airlines | Albuquerque, Allentown/Bethlehem, Asheville, Atlanta, Austin, Birmingham (AL), Boise, Calgary, Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, Charleston (WV), Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, Cleveland, Colorado Springs, Dallas/Fort Worth, Dayton, Des Moines, Detroit, Duluth, Eau Claire, Edmonton, Fargo, Fort Wayne, Grand Rapids, Green Bay, Hancock/Houghton, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Knoxville, Lincoln, London (ON), Louisville, Madison, Memphis, Milwaukee, Moline/Quad Cities, Muskegon, Nashville, New Orleans, Norfolk, Oklahoma City, Omaha, Ottawa, Paducah, Peoria, Pittsburgh, Quebec City, Regina, St. Louis, Saginaw, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, Saskatoon, Sioux Falls, South Bend, Spokane, Springfield (IL), Syracuse, Traverse City, Tulsa, White Plains, Wichita, Winnipeg Seasonal: Aspen, Billings, Hayden/Steamboat Springs, Kalispell, Missoula, Rapid City |
1B, 1C, 2E*, 2F* |
| United Express operated by Trans States Airlines | Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, Charleston (SC), Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, Dayton, Greensboro, Harrisburg, Huntsville, Knoxville, Manchester (NH), Nashville, Norfolk, Oklahoma City, Richmond, Roanoke, Rochester (NY), St. Louis, Syracuse | 1B, 1C |
| US Airways | Charlotte, Philadelphia, Phoenix | 2E, 2F |
| US Airways Express operated by Republic Airlines | Charlotte | 2E, 2F |
| Virgin America | Los Angeles, San Francisco | 3L |
| Virgin Atlantic Airways | Seasonal: London-Heathrow | 5M |
| Rank | Airport | Passengers | Carriers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | London (Heathrow), United Kingdom | 1,108,513 | American, British Airways, United, Virgin Atlantic |
| 2 | Frankfurt, Germany | 919,448 | Lufthansa, United |
| 3 | Toronto (Pearson), Canada | 747,713 | Air Canada, American, United |
| 4 | Tokyo (Narita), Japan | 651,643 | All Nippon, American, JAL, United |
| 5 | Cancún, Mexico | 400,424 | American, Frontier, United |
| 6 | Paris (Charles de Gaulle), France | 346,940 | Air France, American, United, Delta |
| 7 | Montréal (Trudeau), Canada | 345,384 | Air Canada, American, United |
| 8 | Munich, Germany | 318,762 | Lufthansa, United |
| 9 | Mexico City, Mexico | 318,063 | Aeroméxico, American, United |
| 10 | Shanghai (Pudong), China | 299,351 | American, United |
| Rank | Airport | Passengers | Carriers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York (LaGuardia), New York | 1,266,000 | American, Delta, Spirit, United |
| 2 | Los Angeles, California | 1,086,000 | American, Spirit, United, Virgin America |
| 3 | San Francisco, California | 967,000 | American,United, Virgin America |
| 4 | Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas | 891,000 | American, Spirit, United |
| 5 | Boston, Massachusetts | 794,000 | American, JetBlue, Spirit, United |
| 6 | Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota | 726,000 | American, Delta, United |
| 7 | Washington (National), D.C. | 698,000 | American, United |
| 8 | Denver, Colorado | 688,000 | American, United |
| 9 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | 666,000 | American, United, US Airways |
| 10 | Atlanta, Georgia | 665,000 | American, Delta, United |
There are two main cargo areas at O'Hare that have warehouse, build-up/tear-down and aircraft parking facilities. The Southwest Cargo Area, adjacent to Irving Park Road, accommodates over 80% of the airport's all-cargo flights, divided among 9 buildings in two tiers. The North Cargo Area, which is a modest conversion of the former military base (the 1943 Douglas plant area), also receives air freighters. It is adjacent to the northern portion of Bessie Coleman Drive.
Two satellite cargo areas have warehouse and build-up/tear down facilities, but aircraft do not park at these. Freight is trucked to/from aircraft on other ramps. The South Cargo Area is along Mannheim Road. The East Cargo Area, adjacent to Terminal 5, was formerly the airport's only cargo section but has now mostly evolved into an airport support zone.
The Southwest Cargo Area partially lies in the path of one of the new runways (10C/28C). The redevelopment of the airfield will entail moving/replacing this primary cargo hub.
| Airlines | Destinations |
|---|---|
| ABX Air | Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky |
| Aerologic | Atlanta, Leipzig/Halle |
| AeroUnion | Mexico City |
| AirBridgeCargo Airlines | Amsterdam, Moscow-Domodedovo[49] |
| Air China Cargo | Anchorage, Beijing-Capital |
| Air France Cargo | Dublin, Glasgow-Prestwick, Paris-Charles de Gaulle |
| Asiana Airlines | Seoul-Incheon |
| Atlas Air | Anchorage |
| British Airways World Cargo operated by Global Supply Systems |
Houston-Intercontinental, London-Stansted, Washington-Dulles |
| Cargolux | Anchorage, Atlanta, Hong Kong, Indianapolis, Luxembourg, New York-JFK |
| Cathay Pacific Cargo | Amsterdam, Anchorage, Dallas/Fort Worth, Hong Kong, Houston-Intercontinental, San Francisco |
| China Airlines | Anchorage, Taipei-Taoyuan |
| China Cargo Airlines | Shanghai-Pudong |
| China Southern Airlines | Shanghai-Pudong |
| DHL | |
| EVA Air | Anchorage, Taipei-Taoyuan |
| Evergreen International Airlines | |
| FedEx Express | Indianapolis, Memphis, Newark |
| Great Wall Airlines | Anchorage, Shanghai-Pudong |
| Jade Cargo International | Amsterdam, Chengdu, Dubai, Seoul-Incheon, Shanghai-Pudong |
| Kalitta Air | Newark, New York-JFK |
| Korean Air Cargo | Seoul-Incheon |
| Lufthansa Cargo | Anchorage, Frankfurt, Mexico City |
| Lufthansa Cargo operated by World Air Cargo |
Frankfurt |
| Nippon Cargo Airlines | Tokyo-Narita, Anchorage |
| Polar Air Cargo | Anchorage, Tokyo-Narita |
| Qantas Freight operated by Atlas Air |
Melbourne[50] |
| Qatar Airways Cargo | Amsterdam, Doha[51] |
| Shanghai Airlines Cargo | Anchorage, Shanghai-Pudong |
| Singapore Airlines Cargo | Anchorage, Singapore, Xiamen |
| Southern Air | Anchorage, Seoul-Incheon |
| UPS Airlines | Cologne/Bonn, Columbus-Rickenbacker, Louisville, Philadelphia |
| World Airways Cargo | Baltimore, Hong Kong, Milan |
| Yangtze River Express | Anchorage, Shanghai-Pudong |
With the opening of new runway 9L/27R in November 2008, there are now seven primary air carrier runways, arranged tangentially in three parallel sets. The largest is Runway 10–28, 13,001′ x 150′. Runways 9L, 10, 14L, 14R, 27L, 27R and 28 have Category III instrument landing systems (ILS),[52] allowing trained aircrews to conduct landings with as little as 600 feet (180 m) of horizontal visibility. All other runway approaches except 4L have full Category I ILS. Due to its location and prevailing winds, runway 4L is seldom used for landings. Therefore, it is equipped with a localizer, the horizontal guidance component of an ILS system, but does not have a glideslope, the vertical component.
Originally, all runways at O'Hare intersected each other with the exception of 4R/22L. This creates problems in times of inclement weather, congestion at the airport, or high winds. There have been several aircraft near-collisions at O'Hare in recent years. The ongoing redevelopment, which essentially eliminates active runway intersections, is intended to alleviate collision hazards and delays at O'Hare.
Three of the original 1943 airfield's four runways (14L/32R, 9R/27L, and 4L/22R) have been upgraded to modern standards. Runway 14R/32L was added in 1955, 9R/27L (now designated 10/28) in 1968, 4R/22L in 1971 and the new 9L/27R in 2008. In 2003, the fourth original runway (18/36) was permanently closed; its short length, lack of use, and problematic placement no longer justified continued certification. Runway 18/36 is now shown as taxiway WT on current airport charts.
The ongoing redevelopment, when completed, will remove the two northwest–southeast runways (14/32 L/R), construct four additional east–west runways (10C/28C, 10R/28L, 9L/27R, and 9C/27C), and extend the 2 existing east–west runways (9R/27L and 10L/28R, shown on current charts as 10/28). The two existing northeast–southwest (4/22 L/R) runways will be retained. Currently, one of the four new runways has been constructed (9L/27R), and one of the two extensions (10/28) has been completed. The second new runway (10C/28C) is currently under construction.
In the original airfield configuration, runway 32L was often used for departures in a shortened configuration. Planes accessed the runway from its intersection at taxiway T10 (common) or taxiway M (not common). This shortened the effective length of the runway but allowed operations on runway 10/28 to continue without restriction. The full length of the runway was available upon request, though with the extension of 10/28 it was usually not needed. As part of the ongoing reconfiguration, in May 2010 runway 14R/32L was permanently shortened to 9,685-foot (2,952 m), and it now starts at taxiway M.
O'Hare has a voluntary nighttime (2200–0700) noise abatement program in place.[53]
The runway reconfiguration program at O'Hare will also improve the airport for the A380 Super-Jumbo aircraft. As part of the runway reconfiguration program, on July 5, 2007, the runway previously designated 9R-27L became runway 10–28, and on August 30, 2007, runway 9L/27R became 9R/27L.[54]
On September 25, 2008, a 2,857-foot (871 m) extension to 10/28 was opened.[55]
Access within the airport complex can be accomplished using O'Hare's Airport Transit System (ATS), a 2.5 mi (4 km) long automated people mover system that operates 24 hours a day, connecting all four terminals and the remote parking lots. The system began operation on May 6, 1993,[56] and will be soon undergoing a US $90 million enhancement to add 24 new cars and to extend the line to a new remote parking garage.
A large air cargo complex on the southwest side of the field was opened in 1984, replacing most of the old cargo area, which stood where Terminal 5 now exists. This complex sits right in the middle of the footprint for new runway 10C/28C, and is to be replaced by a new facility.
The hangar area has multiple buildings capable of fully enclosing aircraft up to the size of the Boeing 747.
The new North Terminal Air Traffic Control Tower was designed by AECOM (design principal Jose Luis Palacios).
| Passenger volume | Change over previous year | Aircraft operations | Cargo tonnage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 72,144,244 | 0.64% | 908,989 | 1,640,524.1 |
| 2001 | 67,448,064 | 6.51% | 911,917 | 1,413,834.4 |
| 2002 | 66,565,952 | 1.31% | 922,817 | 1,436,385.7 |
| 2003 | 69,508,672 | 4.40% | 928,691 | 1,601,735.5 |
| 2004 | 75,533,822 | 8.67% | 992,427 | 1,685,808.0 |
| 2005 | 76,581,146 | 1.38% | 972,248 | 1,701,446.1 |
| 2006 | 76,282,212 | 0.30% | 958,643 | 1,718,011.0 |
| 2007 | 76,182,025 | 0.15% | 926,973 | 1,690,741.6 |
| 2008 | 70,819,015 | 7.03% | 881,566 | 1,480,847.4 |
| 2009 | 64,397,782 | 9.07% | 827,899 | 1,198,426.3 |
| 2010 | 67,026,191 | 3.83% | 950,119 | 1,577,047.8 |
| Source: O'Hare International Airport[57] | ||||
O'Hare's high volume and crowded schedule can lead to long delays and cancellations that, due to the airport being a major hub, can affect air travel across North America. Official reports rank O'Hare as one of the least punctual airports in the United States based on percentage of delayed flights.[58] In 2004, United Airlines and American Airlines agreed to modify their schedules to help reduce congestion caused by clustered arrivals and departures. Because of the air traffic departing, arriving, and near the airport, air traffic controllers at O'Hare and its nearby facilities are among the leaders in the world in terms of number of controlled flights per hour.
City management has committed to a $6 billion capital investment plan to increase the airport's capacity by 60% and decrease delays by an estimated 79 percent.[59] This plan was approved by the FAA in October 2005 and will involve a reconfiguration of the airfield and addition of terminal space. The plan includes the addition of four runways, the lengthening of two existing runways, and the decommissioning of two existing runways in order to give the airfield six parallel runways in a configuration similar to that in Dallas and other large modern hub airports. This plan was very controversial as the added improvements, at the time they were proposed, were expected to increase the airport's air traffic capacity only slightly, given existing FAA rules. Additionally, the southernmost new runway would require the city acquire additional land, which was extremely controversial as residents did not want to move.
The Modernization Plan is now being implemented; an additional runway and Air Traffic Control Tower were commissioned on November 20, 2008. The new north runway, designated 9L/27R, initially served as a foul weather arrival runway, addressing one of O'Hare's primary causes of delay, but now serves as one of three runways that can be used simultaneously for landings. An extension of Runway 10/28 (formerly 9R/27L) to 13,001 feet (3,963 m) was opened in September, 2008, facilitating the shortening and eventual closure of the 13,000 feet (4,000 m) Runway 14R/32L. At the same time, the FAA redesigned departure routes for both O'Hare and Chicago Midway International Airport, increasing the number from three shared by both airports to five from each airport. With the new runway's opening, O'Hare's maximum aircraft arrival capacity increased from 96 planes per hour to 112 planes per hour; United Airlines's senior vice president of operations, Joseph Kolshak, told The Wall Street Journal that within a month of the runway's opening, "they were consistently hitting that."[60]
Design efforts are underway for the remainder of the program, which includes three runway projects, a new western terminal complex and an automated people mover system. The O'Hare Modernization Program submitted an application to the Federal Aviation Administration to use approximately $180 million in Passenger Facility Charges to fund design work, which began in early 2009.
The second new 10,800 by 200 foot runway (10C/28C) is currently under construction.
The modernization plan has required the acquisition of 126 acres (51 ha) of land in Des Plaines, Illinois; construction of runway 27R and the control tower cost $457 million and involved the rerouting of a creek and 14,000,000 cubic yards (11,000,000 m3) of fill to build up an embankment.."[60] 2,800 residents had to be relocated, as well as a cemetery with 900 known graves. The program ultimately is expected to expand the airport's capacity to over 3,800 operations per day, up from the present capacity of 2,700, and will vastly increase passenger throughput. It will also improve the ability of very large aircraft such as the A380 to operate.
Flight caps in place since 2004 expired on October 31, 2008. Ironically, American Airlines eliminated over 60 daily flights at O'Hare because of soaring fuel prices. United announced similar cutbacks. Recent worldwide economic difficulties further complicate the forecasts for airport demand.
After initially opposing the Modernization plan, DuPage County has endorsed the plan citing the creation of jobs, commercial development, and the ability of O'Hare to regain the status as busiest airport.[61]
The neighboring communities of Bensenville and Elk Grove Village have been centers of resistance to the expansion plan due to their proximity to the airport and because some of their residents and businesses will be required to relocate. Bensenville and Elk Grove Village formed the Suburban O'Hare Commission[62] to fight the expansion. So far, they have not had much success. The commission did receive a temporary injunction against portions of the city's expansion project; however, it was soon overturned. The Suburban O'Hare Commission has also been instrumental in pushing for a third regional airport in south suburban Peotone, which it claims would alleviate congestion at O'Hare. However, no airline has committed to the proposed airport, and planning efforts moved very slowly during 2007–08. In 2008 Elk Grove Village ended resistance. They received assurance that a proposed highway would not be built through their business park. In November 2009, Bensenville officially ended all resistance to the expansion, ceasing all legal challenges against the city of Chicago. They received 15 million dollars.[63] It should also be noted that the city of Chicago is facing an issue with a historical cemetery located in the space of their planned runway expansion. Up until recently, the city was removing graves. This stopped when a state court stepped in on behalf of the buried's kin.
In 1995, the Chicago/Gary Airport Compact was signed by the cities of Chicago and Gary, Indiana, creating a new administration for the Gary/Chicago International Airport just across the state line. While markedly smaller than the proposed Peotone site, this airport already has more land and a longer main runway than Midway Airport. Gary is also many miles closer than Peotone to downtown Chicago. In addition public transportation is already in place to the Loop via the South Shore Line. Indiana and the FAA have provided significant funding for a Gary runway expansion, currently under construction.
Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD) in Rockford, Illinois has also marketed itself as an alternative for congestion at O'Hare. However, it is at least a 1-1/2 hour trip to Rockford from the Chicago Loop. Currently there is no direct transportation service from downtown Chicago or O'Hare to the Chicago Rockford International Airport, but airline service at the airport continues to grow. Larry Morrissey, the current mayor of Rockford, has pushed for a high-speed rail connection between the two airports to make the Rockford airport a more convenient alternative to O'Hare.
General Mitchell International Airport (MKE) in Milwaukee has consistently attempted to increase its usage by Chicago and Northern Illinois customers. There is a direct Amtrak rail service connecting Chicago with Mitchell Airport. The trains operate seven round trips each day, taking under 75 minutes from the Chicago loop.
O'Hare has been referenced by many movies, TV shows and songs
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.
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