This paper provides a detailed profile of Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), one of the world's busiest airports. It traces O'Hare's origins from a World War II manufacturing site through its post-war development into a global aviation hub. The paper examines the airport's administrative structure under the Chicago Department of Aviation, aviation statistics, runway and terminal specifications, ground transportation, and the range of airlines and services offered. Additional topics include the O'Hare Modernization Program (OMP), noise abatement efforts, the St. Johannes Cemetery relocation controversy, customs innovations such as the Global Entry Program, and the marketing implications of the United–Continental Airlines merger.
The paper demonstrates effective synthesis of institutional and journalistic sources. Rather than relying on a single type of source, the author triangulates facts across government websites, FAA records, news reporting, and official commission reports. This multi-source corroboration strengthens factual credibility and models how research papers on public infrastructure topics should be constructed.
The paper opens with a brief introduction establishing O'Hare's significance, then moves chronologically through its founding history before shifting to a thematic structure. Middle sections cover administrative organization, operational statistics, facilities, and services in a reference-style format. The final sections address policy-oriented topics — noise abatement, the OMP expansion, marketing strategy, and customs innovation — giving the paper a logical arc from historical background to contemporary challenges and future planning.
Chicago's O'Hare International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world — second only to Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson — and it has an interesting contemporary profile as well as a fascinating history. This paper reports on O'Hare's history, finances, marketing, services, noise abatement, redevelopment program, and other issues related to its presence in Chicago.
O'Hare was named after Lieutenant Edward O'Hare, a Navy pilot who was killed in action at the age of 29 during World War II. According to the airport's historical record, it is fitting that the facility bears his name — Lieutenant O'Hare was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1942 — because the site itself was a significant part of the World War II story. The Douglas C-54, which at that time was the largest troop- and cargo-carrying aircraft, was built on-site at what is now O'Hare, then known as Orchard Field.
After World War II, the main airport in the Chicago area was Midway, but a far-sighted City Council anticipated that a second airport would be needed, and the city purchased Orchard Field from the United States government in 1946. The purchase included 7,000 adjacent acres, and in 1949 officials paid an additional $2.4 million to acquire more land — a decision that proved wise given the need to expand O'Hare multiple times in subsequent decades. The airport was officially renamed O'Hare at that time in honor of the lieutenant.
Midway remained busier than O'Hare for several years. O'Hare did not open to commercial air travelers until 1955, and even as late as 1959 Midway served 10 million passengers compared with only 2 million at O'Hare. When O'Hare needed its first major expansion, then-Mayor Richard Daley raised $155 million through the sale of revenue bonds. By 1962, all scheduled airline operations had been transferred from Midway to O'Hare. In 1963, President John F. Kennedy dedicated the airport and called it "one of the wonders of the modern world."
The agency that administers O'Hare is the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA). Both O'Hare and Midway airports are owned by the City of Chicago. The CDA is self-supporting, using no local or state tax dollars for operations or capital improvements at either airport. Chicago's airports generate more than $45 billion in annual economic activity and create 540,000 jobs for the region. The CDA is responsible for managing, planning, designing, operating, and maintaining O'Hare.
The organizational structure of the CDA places a Commissioner at the top, with an Assistant to the Commissioner and a Deputy Commissioner reporting directly below. A Staff Assistant sits beneath those two positions. Directly under the Commissioner is the First Deputy Commissioner, who works with the Director of Marketing Airline Affairs, the Projects Administrator, and the Assistant to the Commissioner.
Among the awards highlighted in the CDA Commissioner's welcoming narrative are numerous recognitions O'Hare has received in recent years. The Commissioner also discusses the O'Hare Modernization Program (OMP) and references recent developments, including the relocation of graves from a cemetery purchased as part of the runway expansion.
FAA Information: O'Hare's ICAO/IATA identifier is ORD; elevation is 672 feet above sea level; the airport is located 14 miles northwest of Chicago, Illinois, in the Central Time Zone; ZIP Code 60018. Airport communications include UNICOM 122.95 and Tower frequency 127.925.
Year-to-date domestic passenger revenue through the first three months of 2010 was $11,965,030, while international passenger revenue totaled $2,325,929, for a combined total of $14,696,385. Total cargo tonnage (domestic and international) for the same period was 343,899.4 tons. O'Hare processes approximately 2,300 flights per day, roughly half arrivals and half departures.
The following runway specifications are sourced from AirNav.com, courtesy of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA):
Runway 10/28 (13,001 × 150 ft): asphalt/concrete/grooved, good condition; weight-bearing capacity PCN 108/R/C/W/U — single wheel 100.0, double wheel 185.0, double tandem 350.0; high-intensity edge lights.
Runway 14R/32L (13,000 × 200 ft): asphalt/concrete/grooved, good condition; same weight-bearing capacity; high-intensity edge lights. Note: possible low-level turbulence on approach to 14R.
Runway 4R/22L (8,075 × 150 ft): asphalt/grooved, good condition; PCN 108/R/C/W/U — single wheel 100, double wheel 200, double tandem 350; high-intensity edge lights.
Runway 9R/27L (7,967 × 150 ft): same condition and weight-bearing capacity as above.
Runway 4L/22R (7,500 × 150 ft): same condition and weight-bearing capacity.
Runway 9L/27R (7,500 × 150 ft): same condition and weight-bearing capacity.
Helipad H1 (200 × 100 ft): concrete surface, good condition.
Operational statistics for the 12-month period ending June 30, 2009: 2,317 arrivals and departures per day — 66% commercial, 33% air taxi, 1% transient general aviation, and 1% military.
International arrivals are processed at Terminal 5. Terminal 1 has 51 gates on two concourses (Concourse B with 22 gates; Concourse C with 29 gates). Terminal 2 has 30 gates on two concourses (Concourse E with 16 gates; Concourse F with 14 gates). Terminal 3 has 80 gates on four concourses (Concourse G, 26 gates; Concourse H, 21 gates; Concourse K, 22 gates; Concourse L, 11 gates). Terminal 4 is not used for aircraft; it serves buses, shuttles, and taxis and is located beneath a parking garage.
At least 44 retail, banking, and food-related businesses operate within O'Hare, ranging from Auntie Anne's to Wolfgang Puck's.
Airlines serving O'Hare include: Aer Lingus, AeroMexico, Air Canada, Air Canada Jazz, Air France, Air India, Air Jamaica, Air One, Alaska Airlines, Alitalia, All Nippon Airways, American Airlines, American Eagle, America West, Asiana Airlines, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, BMI British Midland, Cayman Airways, Continental Airlines, Delta Airlines, Iberia Airlines, Japan Airlines, JetBlue, KLM Royal Dutch, Korean Air, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Mexicana, Northwest Airlines, Royal Jordanian, Scandinavian Airlines, Spirit Airlines, SWISS, TACA Airlines, Ted, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines and United Express, U.S. Airways, USA 3000, and Virgin Atlantic.
Numerous hotels are located within four miles of the airport, including the Hilton Chicago O'Hare, Wyndham O'Hare, Sheraton Gateway Suites, Hampton Inn Chicago-O'Hare, Doubletree Hotel Chicago O'Hare Airport Rosemont, and others. Additional hotels are located between nine and sixteen miles from the airport in downtown Chicago.
When the OMP is completed, the airport will feature 3,800 new short-term parking spaces near the new west terminal, 3,200 new long-term parking spaces on the southwest side, additional employee parking, and a secure automated people mover system. The modernization program also envisions an intermodal transportation hub called "O'Hare Terminal 7" designed to improve access from Chicago's suburbs and surrounding Midwest communities. A proposal to connect this hub to high-speed rail service is under consideration. Currently the airport is served by CTA, Pace, and Metra rail lines.
The designated reliever airport for O'Hare is Waukegan Regional Airport, located approximately 35 miles north of Chicago. It features a 6,000-foot runway, ILS service, an air traffic control tower, and a U.S. Customs Office. A second, shorter runway measures 3,750 feet. Waukegan Regional Airport dispenses approximately 4 million gallons of fuel each year and is the second-busiest Illinois airport for international arrivals.
The O'Hare Noise Compatibility Commission (ONCC) is composed of numerous regional communities and school districts. According to the ONCC 2009 Annual Report, noise complaints were six times higher in 2009 compared to 2008. The Airport Noise Management System collects, analyzes, and processes data from 33 noise monitors positioned around O'Hare, along with FAA radar data, weather data, and noise complaints.
As with other major airports, O'Hare encourages airlines to use specific runways during nighttime hours in order to reduce noise disturbance for nearby residents. Beyond addressing complaints, the ONCC has approved a sound insulation policy targeting qualified multi-owner dwellings. The ONCC has been installing soundproofing in homes since 1997; as of the time of writing, 6,954 homes and 115 schools had been insulated at a cost of approximately $500 million. The next phase focuses on extending soundproofing assistance to condominium and multi-unit buildings.
Some airlines are also contributing to noise reduction through fleet upgrades. American Airlines, which operates a major hub at O'Hare, announced plans to replace its fleet of MD-80 aircraft with newer, environmentally friendlier Boeing 737-800 airplanes, promising quieter operations for communities near the airport.
Further demonstrating Chicago's commitment to noise mitigation, the O'Hare Community Noise Resource Center has posted noise abatement signs at five locations around the airport to notify pilots that noise abatement procedures are in effect between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Central Time. Runways 32L, 27L, and 14R are identified as particularly problematic with respect to noise affecting nearby communities.
You’re 59% through this paper. Sign up to read the remaining 3 sections.
Sign Up Now — Instant Access Already a member? Log inAlways verify citation format against your institution’s current style guide requirements.