A WHOLE NEW MIDWAY!

Mayor Johnson unveils Midway's new Central Market

Mayor Brandon Johnson joined officials from the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) and local concessionaires at Midway International Airport this week to celebrate the reopening of the airport’s Central Market and the completion of the historic Midway Modernization Program (MMP), the most comprehensive investment in Midway’s facilities in more than two decades.

“The new concessions in Midway’s reopened Central Market are not just world-class amenities to enhance the passenger experience for Chicagoans and visitors alike,” Mayor Brandon Johnson said. “These improvements are an investment in our City’s communities, creating jobs on the Southwest Side for young people and mid-career professionals while connecting local businesses and entrepreneurs with one of our region’s biggest economic engines.”

Restaurant brands in the revitalized Central Market include Connie's Pizza, America's Dog and Burger, Beecher's Handmade Cheese, and Dunkin', among others. Retail locations now open include Evolve, Tumi, and MAC/Jo Malone.

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CELEBRATING LOCAL TALENT

New art installations unveiled in O'Hare's Terminal 5

The CDA and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) hosted an artist celebration event Nov. 16 for the extraordinary collection of original public art now on view at O’Hare’s Terminal 5.

Featuring artworks by more than 20 Chicago artists, the $3.5 million public art commission is the City’s largest single acquisition of works by Chicago artists in the last 30 years.

The celebration event included brief remarks by City officials and curators, followed by special access to tour the recently completed works, most of which are on display in the International Arrivals Corridor.

Read more about art at the airports

More than 550 attend O'Hare Airport Concessions Symposium

More than 550 small business owners, entrepreneurs and airport industry professionals attended the Chicago Department of Aviation’s (CDA) O’Hare Airport Concessions Symposium Nov. 1 at the UIC Forum.

“Our concessions at O’Hare are more than just a place to grab a bite on a layover,” CDA Commissioner Jamie L. Rhee said during her welcome remarks. “They are an opportunity to showcase the culture, diversity and hospitality of Chicago.”



Watch the full event program video

CDA kicks off 'Chi on the Fly' entertainment series for holiday travelers

Passengers traveling through O'Hare and Midway International Airports this holiday season will be treated to a variety of entertainment offerings thanks to the latest series of “Chi on the Fly" performances, which kicked off on Nov. 16.

Check out the full lineup

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

1.65 million travelers pass through Chicago's airports this Thanksgiving

O'Hare and Midway welcomed 1.65 million passengers between Tuesday, Nov. 21 and Monday, Nov. 27 for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, according to estimates from air carriers.

Compared to last year’s Thanksgiving holiday travel period, O’Hare is saw a passenger increase of 1.5%, with Sunday, Nov. 26 being the busiest travel day with 226,000 passengers. Passenger levels at Midway increased by nearly 1% over last year, with the busiest day on Sunday, Nov. 26, with more than 59,000 passengers.

"We dropped off, picked up, and flew ourselves over the holiday period and encountered smooth operations at O’Hare, with very manageable security lines, adequate staffing and efficient operations all around," wrote the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board. "It was a tribute to airport and airline employees."

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SPREAD HOLIDAY CHEER AS A VOLUNTEER!

Travelers Aid seeks O'Hare volunteers ahead of busy holiday season

The CDA and its social services partner Travelers Aid are seeking more volunteers to assist customers at O'Hare International Airport.

More than 100 dedicated men and women volunteer at O'Hare through the Travelers Aid program, where they staff information desks and provide resources and social referrals to the tens of millions of passengers who travel through the airport's terminals each year. The Chicago Tribune recently ran an article about the impact these hardworking volunteers can have on the traveling public.

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THANKING THOSE WHO SERVED

USO collects thank-you notes for service members this Veterans Day

For Veterans Day, USO of Illinois volunteers at Midway asked travelers to write thank-you notes for veteran or active members of the U.S. Armed Forces as a token of appreciation for their service to our country.

If you missed out on the event earlier, there's still time to submit notes online through the USO's Campaign to Connect and help the organization reach its goal of 4 million military appreciation notes.

Holiday decorating underway at O'Hare

Passengers who made their way through O'Hare over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend may have noticed airport staff already starting to deck the halls to get the terminals into the holiday spirit. Airline and federal partners, along with community organizations, have decorated trees in O'Hare's terminals, showcasing CDA partnerships and Chicago's diversity. 

For example, the Swedish American Museum & Honorary Consulate of Sweden decorated its tree with ornaments of Sweden's national flag and an iconic Dutchman, while the TSA decked its tree in red, white, and blue complete with the TSA seal. Other decorations include holiday light displays scattered around O'Hare's campus and decorative banners and giant ornaments hanging inside the terminals.

Frontier launches new service from Midway to Cancun, Mexico

Frontier Airlines launched new, daily service from Midway to Cancun International Airport in Cancun, Mexico on Nov. 15. Representatives from Frontier and the CDA held a ribbon-cutting gate event to mark the occasion, providing passengers on the inaugural flight with giveaways and activities.

New salt dome completed at O'Hare

Crews finished construction on a new concrete-and-steel salt dome this fall at O'Hare ahead of the snow season. The build-out took about two weeks.

The dome can hold up to 8,000 tons of salt, bringing the airport's total salt storage capacity to 20,000 tons.

Check out the time-lapse video of the construction.

Volaris starts Guatemala City service from O'Hare

International traffic at O'Hare International Airport got another lift Nov. 4, when Volaris launched its first route from Chicago to Central America with direct service to Guatemala City, Guatemala, with continuing service to San Salvador, El Salvador.

The route is the first non-Mexican destination served by Volaris from Chicago. Chicago now joins Los Angeles as the second U.S. city to have service to Guatemala aboard the low-cost carrier.

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O'Hare electrical engineer earns lifetime achievement award

Congratulations to Gene Gottlieb, senior electrical engineer for the O’Hare Modernization Program, who was presented a Lifetime Achievement Award in November by the Illuminating Engineering Society Aviation Lighting Committee (IESALC) at the group's annual meeting in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Gene began his long and storied career installing and maintaining lighting at O’Hare as a journeyman electrician for the CDA in 1989 and retired from the City in 2004. After enjoying a few days off, he returned to action, providing maintenance and design support for smaller regional airports across the Chicagoland area. In 2006, he returned to O'Hare by joining the O'Hare Modernization Program and cemented his legacy by serving as a resource and mentor to countless designers, contractors, inspectors, and anyone else who has been lucky enough to work alongside him over the years.

New Hudson kiosk opens in MMF

A brand new Hudson News & Gifts kiosk is now open at O’Hare’s Multi-Modal Facility (MMF), serving rental car and economy parking customers, as well as passengers connecting to Metra and suburban and intercity buses.

Open daily from 5 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., the new retail concessionaire offers Chicago-themed apparel, local snacks and convenience items to improve any journey.

Adorned with a mural showcasing iconic views from downtown Chicago, the grab-and-go kiosk features wide aisles to accommodate passengers with disabilities as well as those traveling with luggage or strollers.

• Aeromexico: ORD to Guadalajara, Mexico (GDL) 2x daily service starts Dec. 1
• American Airlines: ORD to Aspen, Colorado (ASE) 2x daily seasonal service starts Dec. 20
• United Airlines: ORD to Belize City, Belize (BZE) daily seasonal service starts Dec. 21
• Viva Aerobus: ORD to Zacatecas, Mexico (ZCL) 2x weekly seasonal service starts Dec. 9
• Avianca Airlines: ORD to Guatemala City (GUA) 3x weekly seasonal service starts Dec. 13