20 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

O’Hare named travelers’ favorite for two decades straight 

The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) announced this month that for the 20th consecutive year, O’Hare International Airport claimed top honors in the category of Best Airport in North America by Global Traveler (GT), a magazine for frequent luxury travelers. The award is voted on by readers in the publication’s GT Tested Reader Survey, which counts more than 20,000 write-in voters.

“Chicagoans pride ourselves in making everyone feel like they are at home, and we strive every day to make sure that sense of community is felt for busy passengers traveling through our airports,” Mayor Brandon Johnson said. “To be given this award by Global Traveler’s readers for 20 straight years is an honor, and it proves yet again that Chicago is second to none when it comes to the courtesy and service we provide to residents and visitors.”

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HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

3.4 million travelers pass through Chicago's airports this holiday season

The CDA is welcoming approximately 3.4 million passengers to O’Hare and Midway International Airports over the holiday season between Wednesday, Dec. 20 and Tuesday, Jan. 2, based on projections from air carriers.

Compared to the same period in 2022, O’Hare is projected to see a passenger increase of 4.6%. Meanwhile, at Midway, airlines projected passenger volumes similar to last year and a 4.1% increase compared to 2019, continuing the Southwest Side airport’s post-pandemic recovery.

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Commissioner Rhee updates City Club of Chicago on progress at airports

CDA Commissioner Jamie L. Rhee spoke at the City Club of Chicago Dec. 14, giving the city's civic and business community an update on the status of improvements, new amenities and air service developments at O'Hare and Midway.

The Commissioner outlined the substantial work that was accomplished this year, with the completion of both the Midway Modernization Program and the ten-gate expansion at Terminal 5, as well as enabling work for the Terminal Area Plan, a critical phase of O’Hare 21.

Avianca begins O'Hare service to Guatemala City

Avianca Airlines hosted a ribbon-cutting Dec. 13 at Gate M29 in Terminal 5 to celebrate the start of its service from O’Hare to La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City. The new seasonal service operates three times per week aboard an Airbus A320 aircraft, with departing flights from Chicago available on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Arriving flights will land at O’Hare at 1:15 p.m., and departing flights will leave for Guatemala City at 2:35 p.m.

The inaugural flight marked a return to Chicago for Avianca, which last provided the Guatamela City service in May 2019. Chicago’s Guatemalan-origin population is the third-largest Hispanic population in Chicago, and it’s the largest population of individuals with a Central American origin.

AMENITIES FOR KIDS ON THE MOVE

Kids' Play Area open at Midway

The Kids’ Play Area is now open at Midway! The carpeted retreat has seating for parents and gives younger passengers a safe and engaging space to burn off some excess energy before boarding their flights. It is located near Gate A5 and is open 24 hours a day.

O’Hare’s Family Lounge also features a play area for toddlers and young children, along with seating for parents, device charging stations and stroller parking for families traveling with infants.

Other amenities for families on the go include Mother’s Rooms and lactation pods at both O’Hare and Midway, providing a safe and sanitary place for parents to nurse and care for young children.

O'Hare 21 CMAR wins Contractor of the Year award

The Illinois Road and Transportation Builders Association named O’Hare 21 Construction Manager at-Risk Turner Paschen Aviation Partners (TPAP) its Contractor of the Year at the organization’s 86th Annual Meeting on Dec. 7 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel downtown.

The award recognizes TPAP’s work on the Lower Concourse C Expansion project, which relocated two of the busiest taxiways on O’Hare’s airfield and dug a 9-foot-diameter storm sewer under multiple live taxiways. The project used more than 27,000 tons of asphalt, laid more than 76,000 square feet of new apron pavement and applied 300,000 square feet of pavement paint — enough to cover Soldier Field’s grass five times.

Chicago Magazine highlights O'Hare holiday decor in Terminal 3

The holiday decorations in O’Hare’s Terminal 3 — known from the iconic airport scene in Home Alone that saw the McCallister family rushing to make a flight to Paris — have been listed as one of Chicago Magazine’s “39 Reasons to Love Winter in Chicago.”

It’s nice to be recognized alongside seasonal classics like the Maggie Daley Park Ice Skating Ribbon, the CTA Holiday Train and the tropical refuge of the Garfield Park Conservatory. Check out the full list here.

All the world's a stage — so come perform at our airports!

The CDA has launched an Entertainment Portal where performers can apply to be part of the “Chi on the Fly” entertainment series at O’Hare and Midway.

Entertainment is scheduled around holidays and other busy travel times. Performances typically occur on Thursdays and Fridays, with additional availability during peak travel periods. Performers are paid a starting rate of $500 depending on group size.

All interested performers must apply online through Entertainment Portal. Applications must be completed in full — any application missing necessary information may not be considered. The CDA will contact selected applicants to inquire about performance availability.

Learn more and apply

O'Hare concessionaires deck the halls for holiday wreath contest

Nineteen O’Hare concession locations participated in the 2023 O’Hare Holly Jolly Wreath Contest! The participants each decorated a festive wreath to show off the seasonal flair and unique personalities of their businesses, with voting open to the public through Christmas Day.

Congratulations to this year’s winner, Burrito Beach in Terminal 3 near Gate K4! Starbucks Coffee near Gate E11 in Terminal 2, and Hoypoloi, an UnCommon Gallery near Terminal 2's Gate E5 were the runners-up.

• United Airlines: ORD to Aspen, Colorado (ASE) daily seasonal service increases to 3x daily on Jan. 1
• American Airlines: ORD to Orange County, California (SNA) 2x daily service increases to 3x daily on Jan. 6
• Southwest Airlines: ORD to Tampa, Florida (TPA) daily service increases to 10x weekly on Jan. 8
• Aeromexico: ORD to Mexico City (MEX) 2x daily service increased to 3x daily on Dec. 2
• Volaris: ORD to Guadalajara, Mexico (GDL) 9x weekly service increased to 2x daily on Dec. 1