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Chicago O'Hare International Airport

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About Chicago O'Hare International Airport

Chicago O'Hare International Airport Neon Lights

Chicago O'Hare International Airport is the largest airport in Chicago. It was built in 1995 and instantly became the main airport in Chicago as it overtook Chicago Midway International by passenger traffic and size.

The airport was the first major airport built post World War II and was the world's busiest airport from the early 1960s up until the late 1990s. Today, it remains as one of the top 10 busiest airports in the world, with over 80 million passengers served per year.

Chicago O'Hare underwent a major expansion in 1962 with the creation of Terminal 2 and 3. It expanded again in 1985 when United built a new Terminal 1 that featured two concourses. Additional terminals were built in the years following. The terminals are numbered 1–5, with Terminal 4 no longest existing.

Chicago O'Hare will undergo a massive terminal redevelopment plan that will see all terminal floor spaces expand. All redevelopment is set to be finished by 2028.

The airport is a major hub for both American Airlines and United Airlines.

What is the airport code for Chicago O'hare International Airport?

The airport code for Chicago O'Hare International Airport is ORD.

Airport Location

Chicago O'Hare International Airport is located Northwest of Chicago, Illinois. It can take anywhere from a 30-minute drive to over an hour to reach the airport from downtown Chicago.

Facilities

Inside Chicago O Hare International Airport

Credit: N i c o l a on Flickr

Facilities Include:

  • WIFI
  • Power stations
  • Lounges
  • Banking
  • Special services
  • On-site hotel
  • Yoga room
  • Mother's room
  • Aeroponic garden
  • Hilton Health Club
  • Chapel

Lounges Include:

Terminal 1

  • United Club (x4)

Terminal 2

  • United Club
  • Delta Sky Club

Terminal 3

  • Admiral's Club (x3)
  • American Flagship Lounge (x2)

Terminal 5

  • Air France/KLM
  • British Airways First Class Lounge
  • British Airways Terraces Lounge
  • SAS Lounge
  • Swiss/Austrian Airlines Lounge
  • Swissport Lounge

Book Lounge Passes for Chicago O'Hare International Airport

Did you know that you can buy lounge passes for Chicago O'Hare International Airport with Alternative Airlines? You can purchase them for Air France - KLM Lounge.

Runways

Chicago International Runway Runway Aerial View

Credit: Ron Reiring on Flickr

Chicago O'Hare has two sets of runways (five in total). The south side runways are a set of three — 10L/28R, 10C/28C and 10R/28L and the north side runways are a set of two — 9L/27R and 9R/27L, with a new terminal projected to be completed in 2020.

Previous runways were 18/36 (closed in 2003) and 14L/32R (closed in 2015).

Terminals

Chicago O'Hare International has four terminals in total. The terminals are numbered Terminal 1, Terminal 2, Terminal 3 and Terminal 5. Terminal 4 was a temporary terminal that is now shut.

Terminal 1

Terminal 1 was built when the airport opened and then expanded and rebuilt in 1985. The terminal is exclusively a domestic terminal and facilitates all of United Airlines domestic flights. The terminal is attached to Concourse A and Concourse B.

Terminal 2

Terminal 2 was built in 1962 and is exclusively a domestic terminal. The terminal is attached to Conrouse E and Concourse F. The terminal has three lounges — Delta Sky Club, United Club and Admirals Club.

Terminal 3

Along with Terminal 2, Terminal 3 was created in 1962 and is also exclusively a domestic terminal. The terminal is attached to Councouses G, H, K and L. Although domestic, many international airlines

Terminal 5

Terminal 5 was built in 1993 and — as the only terminal with Customs screening — is the only terminal that facilitates inbound international flights.

The terminal is also home to most of the airline lounges within the airport, including lounges from KLM, British Airways, SWISS and Air France.

Airlines that fly to Chicago O'Hare International Airport

AIRLINE COUNTRY FROM
Aer Lingus Ireland
Aeroflot Russia
Aeromexico & Aeromexico Connect Mexico
Air Canada Canada
Air China China
Air France France
Air Italy Italy
Air New Zealand New Zealand
Air Tahiti Nui France
Alaska Airlines USA
Alitalia Italy
All Nippon Airways Japan
Allegiant Air USA
American Airlines USA
American Eagle USA
Asiana Airlines South Korea
Austrian Airlines Austria
Avianca Colombia
Avianca Costa Rica Costa Rica
Avianca El Salvador El Salvador
Boutique Air USA
British Airways England
Cathay Pacific Hong Kong
China Airlines China
China Eastern China
China Southern China
Copa Airlines Panama
Delta & Delta Connection USA
El Al Israel
Emirates UAE
Etihad Airways UAE
EVA Air Taiwan
Fiji Airways Fiji
Finnair Finland
Frontier Airlines USA
Hainan Airlines China
Hawaiian Airlines USA
Hong Kong Airlines Hong Kong
Iberia Spain
Iceland Air Iceland
Interjet Mexico
Japan Airlines Japan
JetBlue USA
KLM Netherlands
Korean Air South Korea
LOT Polish Airlines Poland
Lufthansa Germany
Norwegian Norway
Qatar Airways Qatar
Royal Jordanian Jordan
Scandinavian Airlines Sweden, Norway, Denmark
Spirit Airlines USA
Sun Country Airlines USA
SWISS Switzerland
TAP Air Portugal Portugal
Turkish Airlines Turkey
United Air Lines & United Express USA
Volaris Mexico

Top Destinations

Top International Routes

2016
Rank Destination Passengers Airlines
1 London-Heathrow 1,037,444 American Airlines, British Airways, United
2 Toronto-Pearson 887,663 Air Canada, American Airlines, United
3 Tokyo-Narita 685,067 ANA, American Airlines, JAL, United
4 Frankfurt 607,328 Lufthansa, United
5 Cancún 522,129 American Airlines, Frontier Spirit, United

Top Domestic Routes

May 2018–April 2019
Rank Destination Passengers Airlines
1 New York–LaGuardia, New York 1,598,000 American Airlines, Delta, Spirit, United
2 Los Angeles, California 1,397,000 Alaska, American Airlines, Spirit, United
3 San Francisco, California 1,114,000 Alaska, American Airlines, United
4 Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas 1,058,000 American Airlines, Spirit, United
5 Denver, Colorado 992,000 American Airlines, Frontier, Spirit, United

How to get to Los Angeles International Airport

By driving

Parking is available at the airport. There are over 10 different rental car companies at Chicago O'Hare. All rental car companies are situated at the Multi-Modal Facility. You can get to the Multi-Modal Facility via the airport's free 24-hour shuttle bus from the Lower Level of the airport. Buses will read 'Rental Cars/ Parking Lot F.

By taxi

Taxis can be flagged down on the street but make sure they're licensed. The safest and most convenient way to order a taxi is to get whoever is providing your accommodation to arrange one for you. If you're travelling from the suburbs, it's best to contact a local taxi company.

Taxis roughly cost $40 USD from Downtown Chicago to Chicago O'Hare.

By rail

There are two main train companies that travel to Chicago O'Hare International.

The first and cheapest way is the Blue Line Train, also known as the Blue Line 'L' (people in Chicago nickname this train the 'L'). This is a rapid-transit system that runs 24 hours a day from Chicago O'Hare to Forest Park Terminal, stopping in Downtown Chicago. The Blue Line Train will drop you off at the lower level of the parking garage.

Tickets can be bought via machines outside of stations and can be paid for using either cash or card.

The second train is Metra. The North Central Service train line is the Metra line that travels to Chicago O'Hare. To get to Chicago O'Hare, you must get off at the O'Hare Transfer Station stop, where you can then get a Shuttle Bus to the airport terminal.

Metra's North Central Service line runs to the airport from downtown Chicago and suburban areas.

By bus

To travel to Chicago O'Hare via bus, you must use the bus company Pace. Pace buses travel to Chicago O'Hare daily via the Pace Route 250, which travels from Des Plaines Metra station and downtown Evanston via Dempster Avenue.

Pace Route 330 travels on every day except Sunday and travels to the airport from Archer Ave/Harlem Ave in Summit.