O'Hare International Airport

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Chicago O'Hare International Airport
USGS aerial image, 2011
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerCity of Chicago
OperatorChicago Department of Aviation
ServesChicago, Illinois, United States
Hub for
Focus city forSpirit Airlines
Elevation AMSL668 ft / 204 m
Websiteflychicago.com/About/...
Map
ORD is located in Chicago metropolitan area
ORD
ORD
Location of airport in Chicago
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
10L/28R 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 (2012)
Passenger volume66,633,503
Aircraft movements878,108
Cargo (metric tonnes)1,512,186
Sources: FAA[1] and airport's website.[2]
Statistics from ACI[3]

Chicago O'Hare International Airport (IATA: ORD, ICAO: KORD, FAA LID: ORD), also known as O'Hare Airport, O'Hare Field, 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 (the CBD). 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 low-cost carriers.

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, after Houston-Bush. American Airlines (including American Eagle) has the second largest operation at O'Hare, carrying 37.08% of passengers. O'Hare is American Airlines' second-largest hub, after Dallas/Fort Worth.[4]

Until 2005, O'Hare was the world's busiest airport in regards to takeoffs and landings. Up till 1998, O'Hare was the busiest airport in the world in terms of the number of passengers. Mainly due to limits imposed by the federal government to reduce flight delays at O'Hare,[5] Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport became the busiest by the former metric in 2005. O'Hare 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 is the fifth busiest airport in the world (after Atlanta, Beijing, London Heathrow and Tokyo Haneda) with 66,633,503 passengers passing through the airport in 2012, a -0.1% change from 2011.[3] 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. 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.[9] 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.[10]


History

Model of "Butch" O'Hare's Grumman F4F-3 Wildcat on display in Terminal 2 of the airport

World War II

See also: Illinois World War II Army Airfields

The airport was constructed in 1942–43 as a manufacturing plant for Douglas C-54s during World War II.[11] The site was chosen for its proximity to the city and transportation.[11] 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.[11]

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.

In 1949, the airport was renamed "O'Hare International Airport" to honor Edward O'Hare, the U.S. Navy's first flying ace and Medal of Honor recipient in World War II. Its IATA code, "ORD", remained unchanged, however, resulting in the infrequent case of an airport's three-letter designation bearing no connection to the airport name or metropolitan area.

Commercial development

Airline Operations (Takeoffs Plus Landings)
Midway O'Hare
1958 337,421 66,205
1959 345,170 82,417
1960 298,582 163,351
1961 187,978 235,908
1962 46,873 331,090
1963 19,054 358,266
1964 19,017 389,640
1965 16,716 443,026
1966 5,090 478,644
1967 4,427 573,506
1968 26,941 628,632
1969 31,394 632,030
1970 43,553 598,973
1971 51,734 565,826

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.[12] O'Hare also opened a $1 million "Skymotive" terminal for corporate aircraft in 1955, the first of its kind.[13]

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.[14] 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.[12]

Ground was broken for the main terminal complex (of which Terminals 2 and 3 remain today) April 1, 1959.[15] The complex, designed by C. F. Murphy and Associates, opened on January 1, 1962.[15][16]

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.[12] 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.[17] Despite this, O'Hare remained the world's busiest airport until 1998.[18] In the late 1960s Midway was nearly abandoned; it enjoyed a revival after startup carrier Midway Airlines began low-cost service there in 1979–80.[19]

Pre-deregulation service

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. TWA also served Europe nonstop from Chicago.[20][21][22] 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.[23] Delta Air Lines served destinations in the Southeast and Midwest.[24]

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).

Post-deregulation developments

In the 1980s, after deregulation, TWA replaced Chicago with St. Louis as its main mid-continent hub.[25] Northwest likewise shifted to a Minneapolis and Detroit-centered network by the early 1990s following its acquisition of Republic Airlines in 1986.[26]

United and American both established nationwide hubs at the airport in the 1980s, which continue to operate today. United developed a new $500 million Terminal 1 ("The Terminal of the Future" or "Terminal of Tomorrow") designed by Helmut Jahn and A. Epstein and Sons,[27] with Turner Construction as the construction manager,[28] and Thornton Tomasetti serving as the structural engineer.[29] It was built between 1985 and 1987 on the site of the old international terminal. Ground was broken for the new terminal complex in March 1985.[28] The terminal opened with 13 gates on June 15, 1987.[30] The terminal was officially dedicated on August 4, 1987 with Mayor Harold Washington in attendance at the dedication ceremony, and the ticketing and baggage claim areas, as well as 29 more gates, were opened.[31] Concourse D of Terminal 2 was demolished in order to make way for the rest of the terminal, which was completed in December 1988.[32] American renovated its existing facilities in Terminal 3 from 1987 to 1990. These renovations were designed by Kober/Belluschi Associates, Inc. and Welton Becket & Associates.[33] Delta maintained a Chicago hub for some time, and opened a new Concourse L. designed by Perkins and Will and Milton Pate & Associates, in Terminal 3 (initially known as the "Delta Flight Center") in 1983, but ultimately closed its Chicago hub in the 1990s.[33]

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. Ground for the new $618 million International Terminal was broken on July 11, 1990 with airline executives and government officials, led by Mayor Richard M. Daley and U.S. Secretary of Transportation Samuel K. Skinner, in attendance.[34] The new Terminal 5, designed by Perkins and Will in conjunction with Heard & Associates and Consoer Townsend & Associates[35] partially opened on May 27, 1993 with its two lower levels completed to handle all international arrivals.[36] The rest of the terminal, including the departures level, opened on September 30, 1993.[37] 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.[12]

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.[12]

A $80 million renovation of Concourse G in Terminal 3 designed by Teng & Associates, Inc. commenced in the spring of 1999[38] and finished in the spring of 2001. The concourse was enlarged into a 144,500-square-foot facility with 25 remodeled gates. Six large "sky vaults," which are huge skylights atop V-shaped columns that bring natural light into a previously confined space, were constructed. A new 4,138 square-foot Admirals Club was also added to the concourse.[39]

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.[40]

United States Air Force use

See: O'Hare Air Reserve Station

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.

Accidents and incidents

1057 fatalities have occurred as a result of accidents en route to or from Chicago O'Hare.[41]

Terminals

A terminal map of O'Hare Airport.

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.

All international arrivals at O'Hare (except flights from destinations with border preclearance) arrive at Terminal 5, as the other terminals do not have Customs facilities. Some airlines, such as United Airlines, American Airlines, Iberia and Lufthansa, will deplane aircraft at Terminal 5 and then, after passengers are offloaded, taxi the planes to other terminals (Terminal 1 for United and Lufthansa, for example) for boarding. This is done at least in part to make connections for passengers transferring from domestic flights to international flights easier.

Terminal 1

Terminal 1 houses the United Airlines hub and departures for some of its Star Alliance partners. Lufthansa, All Nippon Airways, and United's international departures operate international departures out of Terminal 1. However, since Terminal 1 lacks customs handling facilities, all international arrivals (United Airlines and Star Alliance) except from airports with Customs preclearance deplane at the international terminal (Terminal 5) and the aircraft are then moved to Terminal 1 for departure. It has 53 gates on two concourses:

  • Concourse B – 23 gates
  • Concourse C – 30 gates

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 an airy and very slow-tempo version of Rhapsody in Blue (United Airlines' theme music) while moving through the walkway.

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.[56]

Terminal 2

Terminal 2 houses US Airways, Air Canada and Delta Air Lines domestic flights (Delta's flight to Paris operates from the International Terminal 5 as the gates in Terminal 2 do not accommodate the aircraft used on that route). United Express also operates a number of flights from Terminal 2, but check-in for these flights is conducted in Terminal 1. United Airlines runs a United Club in Concourse F near gate F4A, while Delta has a SkyClub on Concourse E. United Continental Holdings, the parent company of United Airlines, is currently upgrading its facilities at Terminal 2, including constructing 10 new jet bridges for its United Express flights, reconfiguration of the holding rooms, and a newly constructed United Club as a replacement of the current club.[57] A Concourse D previously existed and served as the concourse for AirCal, Braniff, Continental, Eastern, Northwest Orient, Piedmont and United Express until it was demolished in 1993.


Terminal 2 has 38 gates on two concourses:

  • Concourse E – 16 gates
  • Concourse F – 22 gates

Terminal 3

Terminal 3 houses the American Airlines hub, as well as departing flights for Qatar Airways and oneworld alliance carriers Air Berlin, Iberia, and Japan Airlines. Also, unaffiliated domestic low-cost carriers operate in Terminal 3. Terminal 3 has 80 gates on four concourses:

  • Concourse G – 26 gates
  • Concourse H – 21 gates
  • Concourse K – 22 gates
  • Concourse L – 11 gates

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 houses AmericanConnection flights, and has three gates used for mainline operations (L1, L8, and L10) as well as for codeshare partners Alaska Airlines and Westjet. Low-cost carriers Spirit Airlines, JetBlue, Virgin America and Air Choice One operate the odd-numbered gate side of concourse L beginning at gate L3. Terminal 3 has two American Airlines Admirals Clubs and a Flagship Lounge.

Terminal 5 (International Terminal)

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 (Delta is the only US carrier that uses Terminal 5 for its nonstop seasonal flight to Paris). 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. It also houses U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the arrival (lower) level. Terminal 5 is currently undergoing renovation, scheduled to be completed in Fall 2013. [58]

Airlines and destinations

Destinations with direct service to O'Hare.
Aircraft taxiing in Chicago
United Airlines Terminal 1, Concourse B
American Airlines Terminal 3 Main Hall
Terminal 5 – International
AirlinesDestinationsTerminal/
Concourse
Aer Lingus Dublin 5M
Aeroméxico Cancún, Guadalajara, Mexico City
Seasonal: Morelia 		5M
Aeroméxico Connect Leon/El Bajío, Monterrey 5M
Air Berlin Berlin–Tegel 3K
Air Canada Montréal–Trudeau, Toronto–Pearson 2E
Air Canada Express operated by Jazz Air Montréal–Trudeau, Toronto–Pearson 2E
Air Canada Express operated by Sky Regional Airlines Montréal–Trudeau, Toronto–Pearson 2E
Air Choice One Burlington (IA), Decatur 3L
Air France Seasonal: Paris–Charles de Gaulle 5M
Air India Delhi, Hyderabad 5M
Alaska Airlines Anchorage, Portland (OR), Seattle/Tacoma 3L
Alitalia Seasonal: Rome–Fiumicino 5M
All Nippon Airways Tokyo–Narita 1C
American Airlines Austin, Beijing–Capital, Boston, Cancún, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Düsseldorf, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Las Vegas, London–Heathrow, Los Angeles, Manchester (UK), Mexico City, Miami, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York–JFK, New York–LaGuardia, Orange County (CA), Orlando, Paris–Charles de Gaulle, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland (OR), Raleigh/Durham, Reno/Tahoe, St. Louis, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose (CA), San Juan, Seattle/Tacoma, Shanghai–Pudong, Tampa, Tokyo–Narita, Tucson, Tulsa, Washington–National, West Palm Beach
Seasonal: Cozumel, Dublin, Eagle/Vail, Hayden/Steamboat Springs, Helsinki, Honolulu, Jackson Hole, Montego Bay, Palm Springs, Puerto Vallarta, Rome–Fiumicino, San José del Cabo, 		3H, 3K, 3L
AmericanConnection operated by Chautauqua Airlines Bloomington/Normal, Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, Cincinnati, Dubuque, Flint, Fort Wayne, Grand Rapids, Green Bay, Indianapolis, Kalamazoo, La Crosse, Louisville, Madison, Milwaukee, Moline/Quad Cities, Oklahoma City, Peoria, Rochester (MN), Toledo, Wausau/Stevens Point, White Plains 3L
American Eagle operated by American Eagle Airlines Albuquerque, Atlanta, Baltimore, Buffalo, Champaign/Urbana, Charlotte, Charlottesville, Chattanooga, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbia (MO), Columbus (OH), Dayton, Denver, Des Moines, Detroit, Dubuque, El Paso, Evansville, Fargo, Fayetteville (AR), Grand Rapids, Green Bay, Harrisburg, Hartford, Houston–Intercontinental, Huntsville, Indianapolis, Jacksonville (FL), Kalamazoo, Kansas City, Kitchener/Waterloo, Knoxville, La Crosse, Lexington, Little Rock, Madison, Manhattan (KS), Marquette, Memphis, Milwaukee, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Montréal–Trudeau, Nashville, Newark, Oklahoma City, Omaha, Ottawa, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Raleigh/Durham, Rapid City, Richmond, Rochester (MN), Rochester (NY), Salt Lake City, San Antonio, Sioux City, Sioux Falls, Springfield (MO), Syracuse, Toledo, Toronto–Pearson, Traverse City, Tulsa, Washington–National, Waterloo, Watertown (NY), Wichita 3G, 3H
American Eagle operated by Republic Airlines Albuquerque, Hartford (begins November 21, 2013), Houston–Intercontinental (begins October 1, 2013), Kansas City (begins August 27, 2013), Minneapolis/St. Paul (begins August 27, 2013), New Orleans, Newark (begins October 1, 2013), Philadelphia (begins October 1, 2013), Pittsburgh, Salt Lake City (begins October 1, 2013), San Antonio (begins October 1, 2013), Toronto–Pearson (begins August 27, 2013), Washington–National (begins August 27, 2013) 3G, 3H
Apple Vacations operated by Alaska Airlines Seasonal: Puerto Vallarta 5M
Apple Vacations operated by Aeroméxico Seasonal: Cozumel, Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo 5M
Apple Vacations operated by Frontier Airlines Cancún, Huatulco, Montego Bay, Puerto Vallarta, Punta Cana, San José del Cabo 5M
Asiana Airlines Seoul–Incheon 5M
Austrian Airlines operated by Tyrolean Airways Vienna 5M
Avianca Guatemala City, San Salvador 5M
British Airways London–Heathrow 5M
Cathay Pacific Hong Kong 5M
Cayman Airways Seasonal: Grand Cayman 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 Compass Airlines Minneapolis/St. Paul 2E
Delta Connection operated by Endeavor Air Cincinnati, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York–JFK 2E
Delta Connection operated by ExpressJet Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis/St. Paul 2E
Delta Connection operated by GoJet Airlines Cincinnati (begins September 4, 2013), New York–JFK 2E
Delta Connection operated by Shuttle America Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul 2E
Delta Connection operated by SkyWest Airlines Cincinnati, Memphis, Salt Lake City 2E
Delta Shuttle operated by Shuttle America New York–LaGuardia 2E
Etihad AirwaysAbu Dhabi 5M
IberiaMadrid3K
Japan AirlinesTokyo–Narita3K
JetBlue AirwaysBoston, New York–JFK, San Juan (begins November 20, 2013)[59]3L
KLMAmsterdam5M
Korean AirSeoul–Incheon5M
LOT Polish AirlinesWarsaw–Chopin5M
LufthansaDüsseldorf, Frankfurt, Munich1B
Qatar AirwaysDoha3K
Royal JordanianAmman–Queen Alia5M
Scandinavian AirlinesCopenhagen, Stockholm–Arlanda5M
Spirit AirlinesBoston, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Houston–Intercontinental, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York–LaGuardia, Orlando
Seasonal: Atlantic City, Myrtle Beach, Phoenix/Mesa (ends October 23, 2013),[60] Phoenix (begins November 7, 2013),[60] Tampa		3L
Swiss International Air LinesZürich5M
Turkish AirlinesIstanbul–Atatürk5M
United AirlinesAlbany (NY), Amsterdam, Atlanta, Baltimore, Beijing–Capital, Boise, Boston, Brussels, Buffalo, Calgary, Cancún, Charlotte, Cleveland, Columbus (OH), Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Des Moines, Detroit (resumes September 28, 2013), Fort Lauderdale, Frankfurt, Grand Rapids, Harrisburg, Hartford, Hong Kong, Honolulu, Houston–Intercontinental, Jacksonville (FL), Las Vegas, London–Heathrow, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Munich, New Orleans, New York–LaGuardia, Newark, Omaha, Orange County (CA), Orlando, Paris–Charles de Gaulle, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Portland (OR), Providence, Raleigh/Durham, Richmond, Rochester (NY), Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose de Costa Rica, San Juan (resumes November 5, 2013),[61] São Paulo–Guarulhos, Sarasota, Seattle/Tacoma, Seoul-Incheon, Shanghai–Pudong, Singapore, Tampa, Tokyo–Narita, Toronto–Pearson, Vancouver, Washington–Dulles, Washington–National
Seasonal: Anchorage, Aruba, Bozeman, Cozumel, Fairbanks,[62] Fort Myers, Jackson Hole, Kahului, Liberia, Miami, Montego Bay, Palm Springs, Puerto Vallarta, Punta Cana, Shannon,[63] St. Maarten, St. Thomas, San José del Cabo, West Palm Beach		1B, 1C
United Express operated by Chautauqua AirlinesBurlington (VT), Cleveland, Columbus (OH), Grand Rapids, Indianapolis, Louisville, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Raleigh/Durham1B, 1C, 2E1, 2F1
United Express operated by ExpressJetAkron/Canton, Albany (NY), Allentown/Bethlehem, Appleton, Atlanta, Baltimore, Birmingham (AL), Buffalo, Burlington (VT), Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Colorado Springs, Columbia (SC), Columbus (OH), Dayton, Des Moines, Detroit, Fargo, Fayetteville (AR), Grand Rapids, Green Bay, Greensboro, Greenville/Spartanburg, Harrisburg, Hartford, Huntsville, Indianapolis, Jackson (MS), Kansas City, Knoxville, Lansing, Lexington, Lincoln, Little Rock, Louisville, Madison, Manchester (NH), Memphis, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Mobile, Montréal–Trudeau, Nashville, New Orleans, Norfolk, Oklahoma City, Ottawa, Peoria, Pittsburgh, Portland (ME), Providence, Quebec City, Raleigh/Durham, Rapid City, Richmond, Roanoke, Rochester (NY), Saskatoon (begins August 27, 2013), Savannah, Sioux Falls, South Bend, Springfield (MO), Syracuse, Toronto–Pearson, Traverse City, Tulsa, Wausau/Stevens Point, White Plains, Wichita, Wilkes–Barre/Scranton, Winnipeg
Seasonal: Billings, Pensacola		1B, 1C, 2E1, 2F1
United Express operated by GoJet AirlinesAlbany (NY), Austin, Baltimore, Boise, Bozeman, Burlington (VT), Cincinnati, Dayton, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Greensboro, Hartford, Jacksonville (FL), Kansas City, Madison, Manchester (NH), Montréal–Trudeau, New Orleans, Norfolk, Oklahoma City, Omaha, Philadelphia, Portland (ME), Providence, Richmond, Rochester (NY), St. Louis, San Antonio, Syracuse, Toronto–Pearson1B, 1C, 2E1, 2F1
United Express operated by Mesa AirlinesAustin, Boston, Buffalo, Burlington (VT), Charleston (SC), Charlotte, Dallas/Fort Worth, Des Moines, Detroit, Hartford, Indianapolis, Jacksonville (FL), Kansas City, Madison, Memphis (begins September 25, 2013), Miami, Nashville, Norfolk, Oklahoma City, Philadelphia, Portland (ME), Raleigh/Durham, Rochester (NY), San Antonio, Sarasota (begins August 27, 2013), Savannah, South Bend, Syracuse
Seasonal: Grand Rapids		1B, 1C, 2E1, 2F1
United Express operated by Shuttle AmericaAlbuquerque, Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Buffalo, Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, Charlotte, Cleveland, Columbus (OH), Dallas/Fort Worth, Des Moines, Detroit, Edmonton, Fort Myers, Grand Rapids, Halifax, Hartford, Houston–Intercontinental, Indianapolis, Jacksonville (FL), Kansas City, Louisville, Miami, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Montréal–Trudeau, Nashville, New Orleans, New York–LaGuardia, Newark, Norfolk, Omaha, Ottawa, Pittsburgh, Raleigh/Durham, Rochester (NY), St. Louis, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, Toronto–Pearson, Washington–National
Seasonal: Myrtle Beach, Spokane		1B, 1C
United Express operated by SkyWest AirlinesAsheville, Atlanta, Austin, Birmingham (AL), Boise, Bozeman, Calgary, Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Colorado Springs, Columbus (OH), Dallas/Fort Worth, Dayton, Des Moines, Detroit, Duluth, Eau Claire, Fargo, Fayetteville (AR), Fort Wayne, Grand Rapids, Houghton/Hancock, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Lexington, Lincoln, Little Rock, London (ON), Madison, Memphis, Milwaukee, Monterrey, Moline/Quad Cities, Muskegon, Norfolk, Oklahoma City, Omaha, Paducah, Peoria, Pittsburgh, Regina, St. Louis, Saginaw, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, Saskatoon, Sioux Falls, South Bend, Springfield (IL), Thunder Bay, Toronto–Pearson, Tulsa, Wausau/Stevens Point, Wichita, Winnipeg
Seasonal: Aspen, Edmonton, Gunnison/Crested Butte (begins December 21, 2013),[64] Hayden/Steamboat Springs, Kalispell, Miami, Missoula, Nassau, Rapid City		1B, 1C, 2E1, 2F1
United Express operated by Trans States AirlinesAllentown/Bethlehem, Burlington (VT), Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dayton, Grand Rapids, Greenville/Spartanburg, Harrisburg, Hartford, Memphis, Norfolk, Oklahoma City, Rochester (NY), St. Louis, Springfield (MO)1B, 1C, 2E1, 2F1
US AirwaysCharlotte, Philadelphia, Phoenix2E, 2F
US Airways Express operated by Republic AirlinesCharlotte2E, 2F
Virgin AmericaLos Angeles, San Francisco3L
Virgin Atlantic AirwaysSeasonal: London–Heathrow5M
WestJetSeasonal: Calgary, Vancouver3L

1Although Concourses E and F are part of Terminal 2, check-in and baggage claim for all United flights are in Terminal 1.

Traffic and statistics

Busiest International Routes from O'Hare (January–October 2011)[66]
Rank Airport Passengers Carriers
1 United Kingdom London (Heathrow), United Kingdom 1,207,407 American Airlines, British Airways, United, Virgin Atlantic
2 Canada Toronto (Pearson), Canada 525,450 Air Canada, American, United
3 Germany Frankfurt, Germany 500,644 Lufthansa, United
4 Japan Tokyo (Narita), Japan 468,396 ANA, American, Japan Airlines, United
5 Canada Montréal (Trudeau), Canada 276,888 Air Canada, American, United
6 Mexico Mexico City, Mexico 275,000 Aeroméxico, American, United
7 Mexico Cancún, Mexico 272,754 American, Frontier, United
8 France Paris (Charles de Gaulle), France 270,450 Air France, American, Delta, United
9 China Beijing, China 252,144 American, United
10 Germany Munich, Germany 250,045 Lufthansa, United
Top 10 domestic destinations (April 2012–March 2013)[67]
Rank Airport Passengers Carriers
1 New York (LaGuardia), New York 1,336,000 American, Delta, Spirit, United
2 Los Angeles, California 1,159,000 American, Spirit, United, Virgin America
3 San Francisco, California 1,057,000 American, United, Virgin America
4 Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas 955,000 American, Spirit, United
5 Boston, Massachusetts 860,000 American, JetBlue, Spirit, United
6 Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota 824,000 American, Delta, Spirit, United
7 Washington (National), D.C. 713,000 American, United
8 Atlanta, Georgia 672,000 American, Delta, United
9 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 666,000 American, United, US Airways
10 Denver, Colorado 665,000 American, Spirit, United

Cargo carriers

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.

AirlinesDestinations
AeroUnion Mexico City
AirBridgeCargo Airlines Amsterdam, Krasnoyarsk, Moscow–Domodedovo[68]
Air China Cargo Anchorage, New York–JFK
Air France Cargo Dublin, Glasgow-Prestwick, New York–JFK, Paris–Charles de Gaulle
Asiana Cargo Anchorage, Atlanta, Detroit, Houston–Intercontinental, New York–JFK, Portland (OR), Seoul–Incheon
Atlas Air Anchorage, Miami
British Airways World Cargo operated by Global Supply Systems Houston–Intercontinental, London–Stansted
Cargolux Anchorage, Atlanta, Dallas/Fort Worth, Hong Kong, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Luxembourg, New York–JFK
Cathay Pacific Cargo Anchorage, New York–JFK
China Airlines Cargo Anchorage, Houston–Intercontinental, San Francisco, Seattle/Tacoma
China Cargo Airlines Anchorage, Atlanta, Dallas/Fort Worth
China Southern Cargo[69] Anchorage
DHL operated by ABX Air Cincinnati
Emirates SkyCargo[70] Copenhagen
Etihad Crystal Cargo[71] Abu Dhabi, Miami
EVA Air Cargo Anchorage, Taipei–Taoyuan
Evergreen International Airlines Anchorage, New York–JFK
FedEx Express Fort Worth/Alliance, Grand Rapids, Indianapolis, Memphis, Newark
Kalitta Air Anchorage, Khabarovsk Novy, Newark, New York–JFK
Korean Air Cargo Anchorage, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle/Tacoma, Toronto–Pearson
LOT Polish Airlines operated by Cargojet Airways Warsaw–Chopin[72]
Lufthansa Cargo Anchorage, Atlanta, Frankfurt, Guadalajara, Los Angeles, Manchester (UK), Mexico City, New York-JFK
Lufthansa Cargo operated by AeroLogic Frankfurt[73]
Nippon Cargo Airlines Anchorage, Dallas/Fort Worth, Frankfurt–Hahn, New York-JFK
Qantas Freight operated by Atlas Air Chongqing,[74] Melbourne,[75] Sydney[74]
Qatar Airways Cargo[76] Amsterdam, Doha, Los Angeles, Milan–Malpensa[77]
Singapore Airlines Cargo[78] Anchorage, Atlanta, Brussels, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles
UPS Airlines Cologne/Bonn, Columbus–Rickenbacker, Louisville, Philadelphia
World Airways Baltimore, Hong Kong, Milan
Yangtze River Express Anchorage, Shanghai–Pudong

Facilities

Runways

Runway layout at ORD

With the opening of new runway 9L/27R in November 2008 O'Hare has seven runways in three roughly-parallel sets. The longest is Runway 10L–28R, 13,001′ x 150′. Runways 9L, 10L, 14L, 14R, 27L, 27R and 28R have Category III instrument landing systems (ILS),[79] 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. Runway 4L is seldom used for landings and has a localizer, the horizontal guidance component of an ILS system, but does not have a glideslope, the vertical component.

In years past, runways at O'Hare intersected each other with the exception of 4R/22L. This creates problems in inclement weather, busy times, or high winds. There have been several near-collisions at O'Hare in recent years. The redevelopment, which essentially eliminates active runway intersections, is intended to reduce collision hazards and delays.

The field started with four clustered runways; in March 1950 all were 5500 to 5750 feet. Runway 14 (later 14L) became 7345 feet around 1952; 8000-ft runway 14R/32L opened in 1956 and became 11600 ft in 1960. 10000-ft 9R/27L (now designated 10L/28R) opened in 1968 and 14L became 10000 ft around the same time. 4R/22L opened in 1971 and the new 9L/27R in 2008. In 2003 the fourth original runway (18/36) closed; its short length, lack of use, and placement no longer justified certification. Runway 18/36 is now taxiway WT on airport charts.

The 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 existing east–west runways (9R/27L and 10L/28R). 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 (10L/28R) has been completed. The second new runway, which will be 10,800 x 200 feet, (10C/28C) is under construction.

In the earlier airfield layout runway 32L was often used for departures in a shortened configuration. Planes reached the runway at taxiway T10 (common) or taxiway M (not common). This shortened the runway but allowed operations on runway 10L/28R to continue without restriction. The full length of the runway was available upon request, though with the extension of 10L/28R it was usually not needed. 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.[80]

The runway reconfiguration at O'Hare will also improve the airport for the A380 Super-Jumbo aircraft. On July 5, 2007 the runway previously designated 9R/27L became runway 10/28. On May 2, 2013, that same runway (10/28) became 10L/28R. On August 30, 2007, runway 9L/27R became 9R/27L.[81]

On September 25, 2008 a 2,857-foot (871 m) extension to 10L/28R opened.[82] On May 2, 2013 airport diagrams published by the FAA depicted the runway previously designated 10/28 as 10L/28R.[83]

Access to airport

CTA Blue Line station at O'Hare International Airport
  • Road vehicles enter and exit via I-190, which branches off I-90 (the Kennedy Expressway) leading to downtown Chicago. Cars may also access the airport locally from Mannheim Road, the airport's eastern boundary. Aside from cargo access on its south side, all airport traffic travels through the east side of the airport. Local residents sometimes refer to I-190 as "the world's busiest Cul-de-sac" as a result of the one way access.
  • Subway trains from the Blue Line of the Chicago Transit Authority's 'L' depart the terminal from an underground station that opened on September 3, 1984.
  • Commuter trains from the Metra North Central Service stop at the O'Hare Transfer station, which is connected to the Airport Transit System via a shuttle bus.
  • Taxi and Limo Services also provide transportation to/from Chicago O'Hare Airport.

Intra-airport transportation

Main article: Airport Transit System
Airport Transit System with Hilton Hotel in Background

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,[84] and will be soon undergoing a $240 million enhancement to add 15 new cars, upgrade the current infrastructure, and to extend the line to a new consolidated rental car facility where lot F is currently situated.[85]

Other facilities

Nippon Cargo Airlines has its Americas regional office on the O'Hare property.[86]

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 located on the northeastern portion of the airfield.[87]

The new North Terminal Air Traffic Control Tower was completed in September of 2008 and commissioned for use on November 20, 2008.[88] The new tower was designed by DMJM Aviation-Holmes & Narver Aviation Partners JV (design principal Jose Luis Palacios).[89]

The USO has a facility in Terminal 2 for the use of military personnel arriving or departing, as well as military recruits going to Recruit Training Command, which has a booth at O'Hare to coordinate transportation to Naval Station Great Lakes for Naval recruits arriving via airplane.[90]

Statistics

Traffic by calendar year
Passenger volume Change over previous year Aircraft operations Cargo tonnage
2000 72,144,244 Decrease00.64% 908,989 1,640,524.1
2001 67,448,064 Decrease06.51% 911,917 1,413,834.4
2002 66,565,952 Decrease01.31% 922,817 1,436,385.7
2003 69,508,672 Increase04.40% 928,691 1,601,735.5
2004 75,533,822 Increase08.67% 992,427 1,685,808.0
2005 76,581,146 Increase01.38% 972,248 1,701,446.1
2006 76,282,212 Decrease00.30% 958,643 1,718,011.0
2007 76,182,025 Decrease00.15% 926,973 1,690,741.6
2008 70,819,015 Decrease07.03% 881,566 1,480,847.4
2009 64,397,782 Decrease09.07% 827,899 1,198,426.3
2010 67,026,191 Increase03.83% 882,617 1,577,047.8
2011 66,790,996 Decrease00.35% 878,798 1,505,217.6
2012 66,834,931 Increase00.04% 878,108 1,443,568.7
Source: O'Hare International Airport[2]

Modernization plan

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.[91] 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.[92] 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 10L/28R (formerly 10/28, and prior to that 9R/27L) to 13,001 feet (3,963 m) was commissioned for use on September 25, 2008,[88] 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."[93]

As part of Mayor Rahm Emanuel's $7.3 billion infrastructure modernization plan, announced in March 2012, the airport would receive an additional $1.4 billion over three years to hasten the completion of the modernization effort.[94] The plan calls for accelerated completion of the fourth and final new runway as well as resumed negotiations with the airport's major airlines in an effort to boost O'Hare's overall capacity by 300,000 passengers per year by 2015.[95]

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.."[93] 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.[96]

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.[97]

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.[98]

  existing runway
  new runway
  removed runway
  • Phase 1 (Complete, runway 18/36 was closed before)
    Phase 1 (Complete, runway 18/36 was closed before)
  • Phase 2 (Extension complete, runway 14R/32L shortened (complete), future runway 10C/28C under construction)
    Phase 2 (Extension complete, runway 14R/32L shortened (complete), future runway 10C/28C under construction)
  • Phase 3 (Beginning stages)
    Phase 3 (Beginning stages)
  • Final runway configuration
    Final runway configuration

Resistance and alternatives

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[99] 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.[100] 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 mid-2012, the city was removing graves. This stopped when a state court stepped in on behalf of the buried's kin. A settlement was reached between St. John United Church of Christ in Bensenville and the City of Chicago, who agreed to pay the church $1.3 million for the 5-acre parcel on the west side of the airport, which included a 2-acre burial ground established by the church in 1849.[101]

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. However, the issue here is a large portion of the revenue that is generated would go to the state of Indiana as opposed to Chicago and the state of Illinois, the very entities the airport would mainly serve.

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.

Popular culture

O'Hare has been referenced by many movies, TV shows and songs

  • Arrests for drugs smuggling in Running Scared, and the start of the film's car chase scene were filmed at O'Hare.
  • While the Chicago airport in Airport is named "Lincoln", Joe Patroni phones in that he is approaching Mannheim Road which is the eastern edge of O'Hare.
  • O'Hare was frequently referenced in the TV show LAX.
  • Meet the Parents and Meet the Fockers: Greg Focker departs O'Hare on his way to New York. (However, the scenes were shot at Westchester County Airport for Meet the Parents, and LA/Ontario International Airport was used for Meet the Fockers)
  • My Best Friend's Wedding: Julia Roberts' character meets her friend's fiancée at O'Hare.
  • Planes, Trains & Automobiles: Steve Martin is trying to get back to O'Hare in the hit comedy.
  • Home Alone and Home Alone 2: The McCallisters live in Winnetka, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, and are seen departing from O'Hare's Terminal 3 in both movies.
  • Home Alone 3: This time, Mrs. Hess arrives in the airport holding the wrong bag, which belongs to the antagonists. Because of that, the antagonists chase her without any notice from her.
  • Risky Business: There is a scene where Joel takes his parents to O'Hare; nice highway approach shots and inside the ticketing area.
  • Alkaline Trio's track "You're Dead" from the 2001 album From Here to Infirmary includes the line "If assholes could fly, this place would be busier than O'Hare."
  • In a classic Looney Tunes cartoon, Bugs Bunny flies on a plane departing from "Oh, Hare! Airport."
  • It is part of the title of the Chicago-based band The Academy Is...'s single "LAX to O'Hare". It is also part of the first line of the song, "It was a plane ride from LAX to O'Hare..."
  • In the sixth season of the hit CBS show The Amazing Race, eleven teams of two began their race at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, where they boarded flights to either Minneapolis, Minnesota, Boston, Massachusetts, or Baltimore, Maryland and connected to Keflavík, Iceland.
  • Many scenes of the airline-themed FOX TV show The Loop presumably take place at O'Hare, as the show is set partly at a large international airport in the Chicago area. However, the airport is never actually identified as O'Hare. Additionally, some exterior scenes are actually shot at LAX.
  • In the 1996 Early Edition Episode "The Choice" Gary, Chuck and Marissa must make a choice between preventing the crash of a Boeing 747 taking off from O'Hare with more than 200 people on board, or preventing a little girl (Amanda Bailey) from being hit by a car while riding her bicycle in the Chicago neighborhood of Lincoln Park.
  • Dave Carroll's song "United Breaks Guitars" is based on an incident that occurred with Carroll's luggage while at O'Hare.
  • The 1997 Puff Daddy music video featuring Faith Evans for 'I'll Be Missing You' in commemoration of Christopher "The Notorious B.I.G" Wallace was partly filmed on the moving walkway between B and C concourses in Terminal 1.
  • O'Hare is featured in the cover of Veronica Roth's novel, Allegiant.[102]

See also

References

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

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