The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) oversees all aspects of Chicago’s major airport system, including O’Hare and Midway International Airports, with a mission to enhance the city’s economy and connectivity by managing operations, development and strategic planning for both facilities. CDA operates these airports on a self-supporting basis without local or state tax dollars and, together, they serve well over 100 million passengers annually, making Chicago one of North America’s busiest aviation hubs. O’Hare alone handled around 80 million passengers in 2024, ranking among the world’s busiest by aircraft movements and passenger volume, while Midway contributes tens of millions more and remains a strong domestic gateway. This dual-airport system under CDA’s administration supports vast international and domestic networks, generating significant regional economic activity and employment.

CDA is also driving major modernisation and digital transformation programmes to prepare Chicago’s airports for future growth and improve passenger experience. Central to this is the ORDNext phase of the O’Hare 21 capital improvement programme, which includes new terminal concourses (such as the groundbreaking of a $1.3 billion Concourse D), a future global terminal, expanded gates and streamlined connections aimed at boosting capacity and operational efficiency. These comprehensive modernisation efforts are designed to reimagine travel from curbside to gate, incorporate flexible, climate-responsive architecture, and support enhanced passenger flows across the airport campus. Through these investments and service improvements, the CDA is positioning Chicago’s airports as future-ready, highly competitive hubs in the global aviation network.

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