Chicago O'Hare International Airport

Airport Information

Chicago O'Hare International Airport

O’Hare International Airport typically referred to as O’Hare Airport, Chicago O’Hare, or simply O’Hare, is an international airport located on the Northwest Side of Chicago, Illinois, 14 miles (23 km) northwest of the Loop business district; operated by the Chicago Department of Aviation and covering some 7,627 acres (3,087 ha), O’Hare has non-stop flights to destinations in North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania.

Designed to be the successor to Chicago’s “busiest square mile in the world”, Midway Airport, O’Hare began as an airfield serving a Douglas manufacturing plant for C-54 military transports during World War II. It was named for Edward “Butch” O’Hare, the U.S. Navy’s first Medal of Honor recipient during that war. Later, at the height of the Cold War, O’Hare served as an active fighter base for the Air Force.

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 terminal, jet bridges, and underground refueling systems. It became famous as the first World’s Busiest Airport of the jet age, holding that distinction from 1963 to 1998; today, it is the world’s sixth-busiest airport.

O’Hare is unusual in that it serves as a major hub for more than one of the three U.S. mainline carriers; it is a large hub for both United Airlines (which is headquartered in Chicago) and American Airlines. It is also a focus city for Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines.

While Terminals 2 and 3 remain of the original design, the airfield has seen radical modernization, and the terminal complex is beginning an expansion of passenger facilities that will remake it as North America’s first airport built around airline alliances.

Airport News

O’Hare International Airport to Restore Terminal Transfer Bus Service on March 1

Secure airside bus service between Terminal 5 and Terminals 1 and 3 will resume operation on Wednesday, March 1, further simplifying layovers for the millions of passengers who connect through the nation’s second-busiest airport each …

First Chick-fil-A and Protein Bar & Kitchen landing at O’Hare's newly-expanded Terminal 5

Chicago-based owners grow business diversity and enhance dining lineup at Terminal 5 The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA), in partnership with Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) Airports, is excited to announce the arrival of the first Chick-fil-A, Protein Bar …

New Eastern Expansion of Terminal 5 Opens at Chicago O'Hare International Airport

Upgraded terminal improves efficiency and enhances passenger experience with expanded gate capacity, amenity space, security checkpoints, and more Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot joined the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) yesterday to celebrate the grand opening of …

Chicago O'Hare 'Terminal Area Plan' Gets Green Light to Proceed

Following a thorough environmental review, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued its finding there is “no significant impact" of the proposed Terminal Area Plan from the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA), paving the way to …

Renovated Pedestrian Tunnels Open At Chicago O’Hare International Airport

Design and Construction Contractors Used 3D Laser Scans of Tunnels to Facilitate Infrastructural Repairs and Interior Renovations. Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) announced today the reopening of seven renovated pedestrian …

New Parking Garage Will Double Available Parking At Chicago O'Hare International Airport Terminal 5

​Construction Project Involves 60 Firms Led by Joint Venture AECOM Hunt Clayco BOWA The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) announced today that construction is beginning on a new, six-story parking garage that will service the expanded …

Contact

O'Hare International Airport
10,000 West O’Hare Avenue
Chicago
Illinois
United States
IL 60666
  • (800) 832-6352