BUILDING A BETTER O'HARE

CDA cuts ribbon on new Terminal 5 parking garage at O'Hare

The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) celebrated the grand opening Nov. 8 of a new, six-story parking garage serving the recently renovated and expanded Terminal 5, the latest milestone achieved by Mayor Brandon Johnson's administration toward the modernization of O'Hare International Airport.

The new parking structure — the first-ever to serve Terminal 5 — more than doubles the amount of available parking at the terminal, which handles both domestic and international passengers.

The $191 million garage features a parking guidance system that provides real-time availability of parking spaces, as well as 48 electric vehicle charging stations. The facility connects to Terminal 5 by way of an enclosed pedestrian bridge on the first level. The garage replaces a portion of the adjacent Lot D surface parking lot and offers both short- and long-term parking options. The adjacent surface lot will still offer about 650 spaces.

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CONNECTING FAMILIES TO GIVE THANKS

Chicago's airports expect 1.8M passengers for Thanksgiving week

The CDA is prepared to welcome more than 1.8 million travelers to O’Hare and Midway International Airports between Tuesday, Nov. 26 and Monday, Dec. 2, marking another bustling Thanksgiving holiday travel season, according to projections from airlines.

O’Hare is poised to see an 11.4% increase in passenger traffic compared to Thanksgiving 2023, while Midway’s traffic levels are projected to remain consistent with last year. Sunday, Dec. 1, is expected to be the busiest day at both airports.

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CONGRATULAZIONI, COMMISSIONER!

Commissioner Rhee named IAET's 2024 Woman of the Year

The Italian American Executives of Transportation (IAET) honored Commissioner Jamie Rhee at the organization’s 52nd annual Awards Dinner on Nov. 16, naming her Woman of the Year in recognition of her accomplishments at Chicago’s airports.

She was introduced by Frank Grimaldi, the CDA’s Deputy Commissioner of Design and Construction, who himself was honored as IAET’s Man of the Year in 2021.

IAET works to support educational programs and scholarships, as well as promote cultural awareness, for the Italian American community.

HONORING THOSE WHO SERVED

Chicago's airports honor service members for Veterans Day

The USO Midway Center hosted a Veterans Day event at the airport’s Central Market on Nov. 11, inviting travelers to leave digital thank-you notes for veterans and active service members. The event is but one of many ways that the CDA — on Veterans Day and year-round — is proud to salute the brave men and women who served in our nation’s Armed Forces.

Passengers traveling through O'Hare and Midway Airports can share in a moment of honor at the "American Heroes: Portraits of Service" exhibition by Thomas Sanders featuring photos of senior veterans who served America during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, accompanied by powerful stories about the life experiences of local Chicago veterans.

Expanded hours at O'Hare, Midway Small Business Resource Centers

The CDA announced this week that its Small Business Resource Centers at O’Hare and Midway are now open five days a week with expanded walk-in hours.

The Midway Small Business Resource Center is located at 5642 S. Central Ave. and can be reached by phone at 773-838-0829. The O’Hare Bid Room and Small Business Resource Center is located at 10510 W. Zemke Road and can be reached by phone at 773-894-3730.

Both centers are open for walk-ins Mondays through Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4:30 p.m. Appointments can be made Monday through Friday from noon to 1 p.m.



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Learn about the ORDerUp! RFP

Commissioner Rhee has a message about the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to operate new concessions in O’Hare’s Terminals 1 and 3 through the ORDerUp! Request for Proposals (RFP).

Ivan Capifali, Acting Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP), also recorded a message in English and Spanish calling on all Chicago small businesses, including Latino-owned businesses, to consider bidding on the available concessions opportunities.

Check out the videos to see how your business could share in the success of the best-connected airport in the country!

CLEANER SKIES FOR A GREENER FUTURE

Airports Going Green brings sustainability talks to Chicago

The 2024 Airports Going Green conference landed at Swissotel Chicago from Nov. 12-15, with the CDA and the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) hosting more than 200 attendees from around the world for a series of discussions and workshops focused on sustainability in aviation.

Industry leaders shared insights on their award-winning sustainable practices and projects, as well as knowledge on how they continue to create positive change for a greener future in aviation.

CDA Operations teams ready for snow season at O'Hare, Midway

Nov. 21 marked Chicagoland's first measurable snowfall of the season, as 2.9 inches dropped at O’Hare! Luckily, the CDA Operations teams are ready to handle whatever this upcoming winter throws at them. There are 257 pieces of world-class snow removal equipment ready to deploy at O’Hare and 69 at Midway.

Crews at both airports will keep operations moving safely and efficiently through the upcoming holiday travel period and all winter long!

Congratulations to our new ASOs!

CDA Commissioner Rhee and leaders from across the airport community celebrated 45 new Aviation Security Officers (ASOs) with a graduation ceremony Nov. 20 that recognized their hard work and professional dedication.

Join us in welcoming these graduates as they begin their roles and fulfill their commitment to keeping Chicago’s airports and passengers safe and secure!

Volaris adds O'Hare route to Monterrey

Volaris launched a new, seasonal thrice-weekly service from O’Hare to Monterrey International Airport in Monterrey, Mexico on Nov. 15. The carrier’s new route offers Chicagoans even more connections to warm-weather getaways, as well as family, friends and business opportunities in Monterrey, all while bolstering O’Hare’s position as a global aviation hub and the best-connected airport in the United States.

WestJet announces expanded Canada service at O'Hare

WestJet will have new service operating from O’Hare to Edmonton International Airport in Alberta, Canada, the airlined announced Nov. 18. The thrice-weekly route, which will start in June 2025, will be the first direct service from Chicago to Edmonton since June 2016. The route will complement the carrier’s existing seasonal Canada service from O’Hare to Calgary, Alberta, which will restart in February 2025.

Pronto Sandwiches now open in O'Hare's Terminal 1

Pronto Sandwiches is now open at O’Hare near Gate B14 in Terminal 1, offering sandwiches made with local and imported ingredients that give travelers a taste of Italy’s culinary traditions.

The shop is open daily from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

• American Airlines: O'Hare (ORD) to Aspen, Colorado (ASE) daily seasonal service starts Dec. 19
• American Airlines: ORD to Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands (GCM) weekly seasonal service starts Dec. 7.
• Avianca: ORD to Guatemala City (GUA) 3x weekly seasonal service starts Dec. 1.
• Denver Air Connection: ORD to Jackson, Tennessee (MKL) 6x weekly service starts Dec. 2.
• Frontier Airlines: ORD to Tampa, Florida (TPA) 4x weekly service starts Dec. 17.
• United Airlines: ORD to Aspen, Colorado (ASE) 2x daily seasonal service starts Dec. 3, grows to 3x daily Dec. 19.
• United Airlines: ORD to Cozumel, Mexico (CZM) weekly seasonal service starts Dec. 21.