'THE PEOPLE'S ART COLLECTION' COMES TO MDW

Mayor Johnson unveils new public art installation at Midway

Mayor Brandon Johnson joined the CDA and DCASE Commissioner Clinée Hedspeth this month to unveil new art installations from “The People’s Art Collection” at Midway International Airport.

Featuring dozens of objects from the City of Chicago’s Public Art Collection, these installations are part of an ongoing exhibition to celebrate our city’s rich diversity and influence on American art and culture, showcasing many Chicago-based artists including photographer Jonathan Michael Castillo and illustrator Steve Musgrave.

Travelers will encounter the impactful art activations as they leave the airport from the Concourse to the Baggage Claim and Ground Transportation. The new installation at Midway includes:

• A series of photographs on glass by celebrated Chicago-based artist Jonathan Michael Castillo, commissioned as a response to the 2023 Citywide Plan.
• Paintings and sculptures from the Chicago Public Library public art collection featuring legendary artists such as Roger Brown, Alison Saar, and Hollis Sigler — as well as the model for Anish Kapoor’s iconic “Cloud Gate.”
• A series of paintings by Steve Musgrave, paying homage to the great diversity of some of Illinois’ most prolific writers.

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A TEST OF STRENGTH FOR A GOOD CAUSE

Plane Pull raises nearly $250,000 for Special Olympics Illinois

Hats off to the 119 teams who helped raise nearly $250,000 for Special Olympics Illinois' programs and services in this year’s Illinois Law Enforcement Torch Run Plane Pull at O'Hare International Airport.

Teams competed in four divisions for the Oct. 5 event: Open, Public Safety, Fitness and High School, with an additional division for employees of United Airlines, which sponsored the event. They put their strength to the test to see who could be the fastest to pull a 95,000-pound United Airlines aircraft 12 feet.

This year’s winning team was the Chicago Barbell Compound, who came out on top with a time of 5.5 seconds.

WORLD CLASS DINING AND SHOPPING

O'Hare welcomes new concessions to Terminal 5

The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) joined Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) Airports and its concessions partners Oct. 22 to celebrate the opening of four new concessions in O'Hare's Terminal 5.

The four new offerings, owned and operated by diverse local businesses, include Chick-fil-A, Protein Bar & Kitchen, Gallery ORD and Dunkin’/Baskin-Robbins.

Eight minority business owners help power the four businesses, including two 100% minority-owned and operated units, Chick-fil-A and Dunkin’/Baskin-Robbins.

With these additions, O’Hare achieved an overall Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) participation rate of 38% and 40% for Terminal 5 specifically.

The new concessions are one of the final pieces of the $1.3 billion expansion and modernization of Terminal 5, which opened in early 2023. Work on a new, six-story parking garage for the terminal is underway and on track to be completed this fall.

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HONORING THOSE WHO SERVED

Final Honor Flight of 2024 takes off from Midway for Washington, D.C.

The CDA was proud to host Honor Flight Chicago's final trip of the 2024 season on Oct. 23. The flight was the organization’s 119th trip taking veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces to visit the National Memorials in Washington, D.C.

The 115 veterans from Chicago and surrounding communities represented the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps, eight of whom served in the Korean War and 107 who served in the Vietnam War.

ORDerUp! pre-proposal meeting draws more than 500 attendees

The CDA hosted a pre-proposal meeting Sept. 30 for companies and entrepreneurs interested in submitting bids for the ORDerUp! Request for Proposals (RFP), which offers opportunities to operate 112 concessions locations in Terminals 1 and 3 at O’Hare.

More than 400 people attended the event in person, with another 145 joining virtually. Watch the full pre-proposal meeting, and learn more at FlyChicago.com/concessionsresources.

Midway concessionaires celebrate Halloween with 'Pumpkin Palooza'

Concessions operators at Midway decorated pumpkins this month to compete in the annual "Pumpkin Palooza" contest.

Pumpkins were on display at the participating storefronts, with online voting open to the public through today, Oct. 31, to choose the best one.

Check out some of the entries here, and don't forget to cast your vote!

The winner will be announced on the CDA's social media channels on Nov. 1.

USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice Awards celebrate O'Hare concessionaires

Two O’Hare concessions have been named among the best airport eateries in the country in USA Today’s 2024 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards.

Wicker Park Seafood and Sushi Bar, which has locations in Terminal 1's Concourse C and in Terminal 2's Main Hall, took the No. 4 spot on the list of best sit-down airport restaurants.

Tortas Frontera by Rick Bayless, which has locations in Terminals 1, 3 and 5, was voted No. 3 for grab-and-go airport dining.

CLEANER SKIES FOR A GREENER FUTURE

Southwest brings Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) to Midway

Southwest Airlines is taking an essential step in promoting a cleaner future for aviation at Midway.

In Illinois’ largest sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) agreement, Southwest Airlines has partnered with Valero Marketing and Supply Company to begin using neat SAF in operations out of Midway before the end of 2024. It's an essential step in promoting a cleaner future for aviation at Midway.

This agreement, made possible by the Illinois Sustainable Aviation Fuel Purchase Credit and support from the valued Southwest Corporate Customers in Southwest's Scope 3 SAF Program, will reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by 74% to 84%, benefiting the community, travelers, and planet for years to come.

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Frontier adds Florida routes at O'Hare

Earlier this month, Frontier Airlines announced an expansion of its service from O’Hare to Florida this December – just in time for a beach getaway from a Chicago winter!

The carrier’s four new routes will fly to Palm Beach, Fort Myers, Sarasota and Tampa.

Hudson News & Gifts now open in Midway's C Concourse

Midway welcomed a new retail concession this month with the opening of Hudson News & Gifts in the C Concourse! Open daily from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. near Gate C1, the shop carriers a selection of snacks, beverages, books, magazines, souvenirs, electronics and more.

• Southwest Airlines: Midway (MDW) to Montego Bay, Jamaica (MBJ) weekly seasonal service starts Nov. 23.
• Southwest Airlines : MDW to Los Cabos, Mexico (SJD) weekly seasonal service starts Nov. 23.
• American Airlines: O'Hare (ORD) to Aruba (AUA) weekly seasonal service starts Nov. 9.
• Denver Air Connection: ORD to Muskegon, Michigan (MKG) new 12x weekly service starts Nov. 1.
• Spirit Airlines: ORD to Fort Myers, Florida (RSW) 5x weekly seasonal service starts Nov. 7, increases to daily Nov. 25.
• United Airlines: ORD to Belize City, Belize (BZE) weekly seasonal service starts Nov. 2.
• Volaris: ORD to Monterrey, Mexico (MTY) 4x weekly service starts Nov. 3.