Why is O Hare airport so big?

Chicago O'Hare International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the US (consistently in the top four for at least the past five years). It was developed as a major expansion for the city after the Second World War and saw huge growth when newly introduced jets moved away from Midway Airport.



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It has very sophisticated facilities that include an underground pedestrian walkway connecting the two concourses, brightened by a neon light show. It has world-class public art exhibits and entertainment. And in today's always-on world, O'Hare has all the devices to keep you connected.

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United Airlines (including United Express) is the largest airline at O'Hare, carrying over 45% of passengers. O'Hare is the second-largest hub for United, after Houston-Bush.

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O'Hare is unusual in that it serves as a major hub for more than one of the three U.S. mainline carriers; it is a large hub for both United Airlines (which is headquartered in Chicago) and American Airlines. It is also a focus city for Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines.

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Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) is one of the world's largest airports, ranking second globally in passenger numbers and third in aircraft movements. DFW was built between 1967 and 1973 and became operational on January 13, 1974, with American Airlines' first commercial flight.

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O'Hare International Airport, located in northwestern Chicago, is the third largest airport in the United States. In 2019, nearly 85 million passengers passed through O'Hare International, making it the sixth busiest airport in the world.

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Generally, the first three terminals are considered domestic terminals and are easily traversed. All three of these terminals are connected by pedestrian walkways, making them so much easier to cross than having to wait for transportation to take you to them.

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Chicago O'Hare Airport was the fourth busiest airport in the world in 2022 according to preliminary global air traffic figures.

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Terminals. O'Hare has four numbered passenger terminals with nine lettered concourses and a total of 213 gates. Terminal 1 is used for United Airlines flights, as well as international departures by Lufthansa and All Nippon Airways. It contains 52 gates on two concourses, lettered B–C.

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Midway Is Convenient for Domestic Travel It's closer to downtown, and limo service can get you from the Loop to Midway in just over 20 minutes (without traffic, of course). While Midway may not have the same range of international options, it offers many domestic flights and a more stress-free travel experience.

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Domestic Terminals 1, 2, and 3 are connected to each other and you can easily walk between them or take moving sidewalks and escalators. The walk from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2 takes about 10 minutes, and from Terminal 1 to Terminal 3 can take up to 20 minutes if you're walking from farthest gate to farthest gate.

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As a general average, Chicago O'Hare (KORD) seems to do somewhere between 1.5 and 2 operations per minute (so roughly one takeoff or landing every 30-40 seconds).

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Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International has been the world's busiest airport before and since the pandemic began in 2020. O'Hare ranks second among U.S. airports behind Hartsfield-Jackson based on flights.

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Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International has been the world's busiest airport before and since the pandemic began in 2020. O'Hare ranks second among U.S. airports behind Hartsfield-Jackson based on flights.

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