2021-03-20 00:11:53
Conveniently situated in the center of the country, Chicago boasts two first-class airports, allowing attendees to travel from almost anywhere. Chicago O’Hare and Midway International Airports comprise one of the most connected airport systems in the world. Our airports are hubs to three of the four largest carriers in the United States — American Airlines, United Airlines, and Southwest Airlines. STATE OF THE AIRPORTS In 2019, O’Hare and Midway together handled over 105 million passengers, nearly 1.2 million aircraft operations. Prior to the pandemic, 55 passenger airlines provided nonstop service from Chicago to 275 destinations worldwide. Airlines are gradually restoring service lost during 2020, remaining flexible with scheduling according to passenger demand and governmental restrictions. As visitors plan ahead for travel to Chicago for events, meetings, and trade shows, our airports look forward to safely welcoming everyone back soon. We are ready to reconnect the world to Chicago and Chicago to the world! CHICAGO O’HARE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT O’Hare International Airport (ORD) lies just 17 miles from downtown Chicago and is one of the top most connected airport hubs in the country. Each terminal features outstanding dining options, from Chicago restaurants to your favorite national food franchises. Shop boutiques, national brands, and convenience kiosks. There are power stations located throughout the terminals and free WiFi in most public areas of the airport. Other features include public art displays, rooms for nursing mothers, and service animal relief areas. A New O’Hare is Taking Flight O’Hare 21 is a historic plan by the City of Chicago and its airline partners to transform O’Hare International Airport with new facilities and modern infrastructure. The centerpiece is an $8.5 billion investment that will expand the airport’s capacity and connectivity, and improve customer service. Over the next decade, this program will deliver a new international terminal, provide 25% more gate frontage capacity, introduce a more streamlined passenger experience from curb to gate, and allow all three of the major airline alliances to co-locate within the same terminals. The commissioning of Runway 9C-27C in November 2020 marked the completion of the O’Hare Modernization Program’s final new runway. O’Hare now has eight total runways — the most of any commercial airport in the United States. A newly completed Multimodal Facility further enhances the guest experience, with a 2.5 million-square-foot transportation facility that consolidates rental car operations, public parking, Metra rail, and regional buses in one centralized location. In addition, planning is underway for the modernization of the current Hilton Chicago O’Hare Airport hotel, which will expand travelers’ direct access to accommodations and provide updated conference facilities. Future O’Hare Global Terminal, Global Concourse & Satellite Concourses At the forefront of O’Hare 21 are plans to build a new O’Hare Global Terminal (OGT), Global Concourse and two new satellite concourses. At 2.25 million square feet, the new OGT, designed by Studio ORD and led by architect Jeanne Gang, will be one of the largest and most cutting-edge terminals in the nation. It will more than double the space of today’s Terminal 2, replacing it with an expanded, light-filled arrivals hall with additional gates; more space for concessions, lounges, and public amenities; state-of-the-art baggage systems; and advanced technologies to improve security screening. Terminal 5 Expansion At approximately 350,000 square feet, the Terminal 5 expansion will add 10 new gates, plus increase passenger amenity space by 75% and premium lounge space by 70%. This will make way for expanded checkpoints, an upgraded baggage handling system, and give O'Hare International Airport the capacity to serve more travelers safely and comfortably. CHICAGO MIDWAY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT A mere 10 miles from downtown, Midway (MDW) is a premier point to-point airport, offering leisure and business travel across the U.S. and Mexico. For those seeking value and convenience, Midway presently offers connections to more than 60 destinations — with airlines continually adjusting operations since the start of the pandemic. Three concourses are filled with a wide variety of open restaurants and shops, along with amenities such as a room for nursing mothers in Concourse C, and a service animal relief room in Concourse A. The Midway Modernization Program (MMP) — the most significant capital program at Midway in nearly 20 years — elevates the travel experience for passengers and is preparing the airport for future growth. New Dynamic Concessions Offerings The concessions expansion project calls for 70 new locations at Midway, increasing the total concessions area from about 40,000 square feet to more than 70,000 square feet. Several new local restaurants and shops have been added throughout the terminals and Central Market, and many more are coming as part of the ongoing MMP redevelopment. Iconic Chicago-area establishments that have locations at Midway include Billy Goat Tavern, Arami, and Harry Caray’s Shortstop. Security Checkpoint Expansion A new 80,000-square-foot security structure and expanded pedestrian bridge were completed in 2020. The new security pavilion provides new technology and a streamlined single checkpoint area that is seven times wider than the previous security hall. This development, combined with new TSA automated lanes, increases the hourly throughput of passengers from 2,500 to 5,000 per hour — doubling previous capacity while maintaining the highest levels of security. Terminal Garage Enhancements The upgrade to Midway’s terminal-adjacent parking facility brought new elevators, new lighting, and a new revenue control system in 2020. With these improvements, passengers now enjoy cashier-less operations when using the terminal garage. The city will also be positioned to implement a new premium parking system for our frequent fliers. Reconnecting You To The World From the very first days of the COVID-19 outbreak, airport leadership worked with federal, state, and local partners, including the Chicago Mayor’s Office and Department of Public Health, the CDC, Customs and Border Protection, and TSA — as well as all airline partners and tenants. Chicago’s airports are committed to providing travelers with safe and efficient facilities, while offering best-in-class services and amenities. There is no higher priority in our airports than the safety and security of the traveling public and our airport community. 5 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO • A face covering is required in the airport • Keep 6 feet (2 meters) apart • Touch-free options are available at many concessions and other locations • Plastic shields were installed for added safety at various locations of the airport • Increased cleaning in high-traffic areas Concessions continue to operate in a strategic manner, providing food, beverage, and other essentials in a safe environment. Looking ahead, Chicago’s airports are well-prepared to adjust to the new travel conditions as they evolve, and our friendly customer service team is on-site and ready to provide passengers with a positive and safe terminal experience. For the latest updates, visit flychicago.com/covid.
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