The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) announced today 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.” 

“The O’Hare team is constantly challenging ourselves to enhance the traveling experience,” said CDA Commissioner Jamie L. Rhee. “Having Global Traveler’s audience validate our efforts for 20 years straight with this prestigious award reaffirms the hard work that we do each day on behalf of travelers.” 

O’Hare’s recognition as a top airport coincides with the 20th anniversary of the GT Tested Reader Survey awards, which recognize excellence in 104 travel-related categories including airlines, hotels, loyalty programs and travel-related products. The CDA will formally accept the award at a reception later this month in Southern California.  

"Congratulations to Chicago O’Hare International Airport for winning Best Airport in North America for the past 20 years in Global Traveler’s GT Tested Reader Survey awards,” said Global Traveler Publisher and CEO Francis X. Gallagher. “O'Hare has captured this title every year of our survey's existence, which is quite the impressive feat! I find O’Hare offers options and ease many large airports are missing. This consistency helps keep O’Hare top of mind with our readers year after year." 

The Best Airport in North America honor is the latest in a long series of awards O’Hare has received in 2023, including:

• Best Airport Dining for the fourth consecutive year by Trazee Travel, a website for travelers ages 25 to 40 
• Top ranking for flight connectivity in North America by the OAG Megahubs U.S. Index 
• Capital Award Winner – Terminal 5 Extension by the American Institute of Architects

Results of the GT Tested Reader Survey awards are published in the December issue of Global Traveler.   

On top of these prestigious honors, 2023 has been a year of significant developments at O’Hare, starting with the grand opening of the expanded and renovated Terminal 5 in January, a key component of O’Hare 21. The four-year, $1.3 billion Terminal 5 modernization project increased the terminal’s capacity by 25% to improve efficiency and reduce delays. Passenger amenity space was increased by 75%, and the existing building was expanded by approximately 350,000 square feet, with additional renovations to 750,000 square feet of the existing structure. Construction is also underway on a new, six-story Terminal 5 parking garage that will double the amount of available parking on site. 

This spring, the CDA debuted the “American Heroes: Portraits of Service” gallery exhibit in Terminal 3’s L Concourse, featuring portraits of 55 senior veterans from across the country who served America during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, captured by nationally recognized photographer Thomas Sanders. The O’Hare exhibit, a counterpart to Midway International Airport’s “American Heroes: Portraits of Service” exhibit which opened in November 2022, was organized by the CDA in partnership with Belmont Village Senior Living and co-sponsored by Harrison Street. 

And last month, the CDA unveiled an expansive installation of works by more than 20 Chicago artists in Terminal 5. The $3.5 million public art commission, a collaboration between the CDA and Chicago's Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), is the City's largest single acquisition of works by Chicago artists in the last 30 years.