THE STAKES ARE HIGH for Chicago’s airports to maintain their status as leading aviation hubs as passenger numbers rise, facilities age and competing airports expand.
Located on the far northwest side of Chicago, 17 miles from the Loop, Chicago O’Hare International is among the top 10 busiest airports in the world, the third-busiest in the United States and the busiest in the Midwest. It’s also an international gateway to the region, serving 55 destinations around the world in addition to more than 150 domestic gateways.
United Airlines and American Airlines feature as the biggest players at O’Hare. This year American will add flights to five destinations in the United States and Canada. Flights to Vancouver (YVR) and Charleston, S.C. (CHS) will begin May 4, and flights to Bangor, Maine (BGR); Myrtle Beach, S.C. (MYR); and Calgary, Alberta (YYC) will begin June 7.
United will also add non-stop service this year from O’Hare with flights to El Paso, Texas (ELP), and Wilmington, N.C. (ILM), as well as seasonal service to Fresno, Calif. (FAT).
As flights and passenger numbers grow quickly, the airport looks to accommodate with short- and long-term solutions.
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel seeks companies to design, build, finance, operate and maintain a high-speed O’Hare express train from downtown Chicago to O’Hare. The project was initially proposed in the early 1990s and more closely reviewed in early 2016. Chicago currently offers rail access to O’Hare via CTA’s Blue Line, but a high-speed line would cut travel times in half.
Elon Musk also set his sights on Chicago, recently proposing a futuristic tunnel-based service using electromagnetic “sleds” capable of speeds up to 125 mph. Officials haven’t ruled out the innovative technology.
In addition to train updates, Emanuel and aviation commissioner Ginger Evans outlined a multibillion-dollar plan to rebuild O’Hare’s aging Terminal 2 and add dozens of gates. Funding for the project would largely come from American and United, but both carriers announced plans to cut costs by 2021 and 2020, respectively, which could pose financial issues for O’Hare. Negotiations are ongoing, and the final decisions will weigh heavily on O’Hare’s status as a primary U.S. aviation hub — New York, Atlanta and Los Angeles are not far behind.
In November city and county officials opened a 10-mile stretch of highway west of the airport, advancing a $3.4 billion infrastructure project promising to let drivers enter the airport from the west by 2022. This project will let people who live in DuPage and Kane counties more easily access the airport, reducing congestion on the east side.
O’Hare isn’t the only Chicago airport with big changes in the pipeline.
Chicago Midway International Airport lies about 10 miles closer to the Loop, a secondary but nonetheless crucial airport, serving some 22 million people per year.
Last October the airport broke ground on a new security checkpoint and bridge expansion project. The new 80,000-square-foot pavilion will allow for additional security lanes, enhanced technology and a single checkpoint system, doubling screening capacity and increasing efficiency.
Emanuel announced at the groundbreaking, “Over the next three years, we will transform Midway into a truly world-class airport at no cost to taxpayers, while creating hundreds of jobs right here in the community.”
The kickoff of the security checkpoint marks the beginning of construction on the Midway Modernization Project — a $323 million investment.
While both airports have big and expensive work to do in the future, their reputations are on their side. O’Hare was voted Best Airport in North America for 14 consecutive years by Global Traveler readers. O’Hare and Midway were recognized this year by Eno Center for Transportation as Best in the Nation for Flight Connectivity, and both airports were granted an ACI-NA Excellence in Airport Concessions Award for green concessions practices.
Read This Next
Adventure Travel Around the World
Features
Jan 1, 2018All Reads on This Topic
Read Them All

Introducing
FX Excursions
FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.
#globility
Insta FeedCruises
May 17, 2025Viking Takes Delivery of Newest River Ship in Europe
Officially delivered March 18, Viking’s newest Longship Viking Nerthus was presented at Meyer’s Neptun Werft shipyard in Rostock Warneműnde, Germany. Accommodating up to 168 guests, Viking Nerthus spans 84 staterooms, all featuring Viking’s signature Scandinavian design.
Sponsored Content
Royal Air Maroc Marks Five Years with oneworld: Strengthening Connectivity Between USA and Africa and Expanding Global Reach
Royal Air Maroc proudly enters its fifth year as a member of the prestigious oneworld alliance. Since joining in April 2020, RAM has demonstrated resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic, emerging as a dynamic airline that enhanced its digital services and expanded its network. The airline plans to grow its fleet to 200 aircraft by 2037, reinforcing its global presence.
Daily
May 16, 2025New Kosovo Philharmonic Opera, Ballet and Theatre Hall to Open This Year
A new opera and ballet theater in Kosovo will house four performance halls and a new public plaza in the capital city of Prishtina. As the first opera house in the Republic of Kosovo, the theater symbolizes the country’s rich and diverse cultural heritage while reflecting a new identity for Prishtina, rooted in creativity and a commitment to the country’s artistic growth.
Daily
May 16, 2025Inkaterra Hotels Make a Peru Trip Unforgettable
Looking to plan the ultimate trip to Peru, but not sure where to start? Inkaterra is here to help. With properties in multiple cities throughout the country and various immersive itineraries, Inkaterra makes it easy for your dream trip to Peru to come to life.
Sponsored Content
Sail Unique with Explora Journeys
SAIL UNIQUE: A New Chapter in Luxury Ocean Travel Imagine a place where modern European elegance meets the rhythm of the sea — where time slows down, and every detail is crafted to inspire connection and quiet indulgence. This is Explora Journeys, the luxury lifestyle ocean brand from MSC Group created to redefine how we explore the world.
Daily
May 16, 2025“Le Commandant Charcot” Will Complete Full Antarctica Circumnavigation in 2028
PONANT EXPLORATIONS will soon achieve a new world first when its Le Commandant Charcot will embark on a full circumnavigation of Antarctica, departing from Ushuaia, Argentina, from January to March 2028. This polar expedition unlike any before will journey nearly 11,200 miles of remote, uncharted coastline of the White Continent.
Culture Runs Deep in the Old Town of Corfu
May 2025
May 15, 20256 Unforgettable Dining Experiences Around the World
Daily
May 14, 2025eFlyer Reviews
May 14, 2025Hotel Van Zandt Review
One step onto Austin’s Rainey Street and you’ll feel like you’ve joined the cool kids at the best playground in the city. Just behind the cottage bars, pint-sized skyscrapers soar. One of them, Hotel Van Zandt, the Rainey district's pièce de resistance, beckons with a song-like spirit —apropos because the independently owned property, rife with music motifs, was named after beloved singer-songwriter Townes Van Zandt. Sixteen stories high, the hotel embodies Austin’s lust for music, manifesting with a vinyl corner; trumpet chandeliers; myriad musical references; replica vintage posters in frames; and its own live music venue, which doubles as its acclaimed restaurant, Geraldine’s. Don’t miss the mesmerizing installation of colorful origami-like birds composed from vinyl records that flitter from an old phonograph.
Sponsored Content
Find Your Perfect Escape with Paradisus by Meliá — More Than Just All-Inclusive
Luxury travel today is about more than just beautiful accommodations — it’s about experiencing the destination. Paradisus by Meliá takes traditional all-inclusive resorts to the next level by offering indulgence with immersion, experiences and authenticity. Each resort is shaped by its location, local flavors and curated Destination Inclusive® experiences that bring you closer to the heart of the destination.
eFlyer News
May 14, 2025National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions Enters European River Cruise Market with 2026 Itineraries
National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions recently announced its inaugural European river cruises, with bookings open for its 2026 sailings on May 20. Travelers can choose from two options, each focusing on different destinations and activities.
ShareThis