The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) is prepared to welcome more than 2.56 million passengers to O’Hare and Midway International Airports between Friday, March 31 and Monday, April 10, for the historically busy travel season that aligns with Holy Week celebrations and Spring Break for Chicago Public Schools (CPS), according to preliminary passenger data from the airlines. 

“With Easter, Passover and Ramadan already underway or on the horizon, millions of people will travel to and through Chicago’s airports over the next 12 days on their way to celebrate or reflect with family, or to enjoy a well-deserved Spring Break vacation with their children,” said CDA Commissioner Jamie L. Rhee. “We’re thrilled to welcome them to our airports and provide them with a safe and efficient travel experience.” 

Compared to the same Spring Break travel period last year, O’Hare is expected to see a passenger increase of 6.7%, and current projections from airlines show that Thursday, April 6 will be the busiest day of travel. At Midway, airlines report a projected increase of 19.1% compared to Spring Break 2022, and the busiest day is expected to be Friday, March 31.** 

Visitors and residents traveling through O’Hare and Midway International Airports over the next several days are reminded of the following tips: 

Prevent Traffic Congestion
Traffic back-ups at Chicago’s airports are common on  busy travel days, and Chicagoland residents on their way to each airport are asked to be mindful of the following tips to minimize congestion: 

• Consider taking public transit to avoid curbside crowds. The CTA Blue Line provides 24/7 service to O’Hare, and the CTA Orange Line serves Midway between 4 a.m. and 1 a.m. Additionally, Metra’s North Central Service offers weekday service from downtown Chicago’s Union Station to the O’Hare transfer station next to the Multi-Modal Facility (MMF), with access to the Airport Transit System (ATS). 
• Kiss n’ Fly drop-offs are provided at both airports. At Midway, drivers can drop off passengers at West 59th Street and South Kilpatrick Avenue, which is just a short walk into the terminals. At O’Hare, passengers can be dropped off at the Multi-Modal Facility, 10255 W. Zemke Blvd., and board the ATS for a short ride to Terminals 1, 2, 3 and 5. 
• Cell Phone Lots are completely free and available at both airports for locals picking up arriving passengers. Simply wait in these convenient parking lots until arriving passenger call to say they are ready for pickup. The O’Hare Cell Phone Lot is at 560 N. Bessie Coleman Drive, and the Midway Cell Phone Lot is located on the southeast corner of West 61st Street and South Cicero Avenue. 

Kennedy Expressway Construction Update
Due to a three-year construction project on the Kennedy Expressway, travel by car between O’Hare International Airport and the city may be substantially delayed, particularly during rush hour. All O’Hare passengers should consider utilizing public transportation options to enter or depart from the city, including the CTA Blue Line and Metra’s North Central Service. If traveling by car, passengers should budget extra time for travel, particularly those leaving from the city for O’Hare during the evening rush hour, and those entering the city from O’Hare during the morning rush hour. More information on the construction schedule is available from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT). 

Check Parking Updates Before You Leave
Economy lots at O’Hare often reach capacity during busy holiday periods. Passengers planning to park at O’Hare are encouraged to check the status of available parking before leaving for O'Hare at flychicago.com/ORDParking. Reserved parking is also available on a limited basis for certain O’Hare lots, visit FlyChicago.com for more information. Parking lot status, pricing and advance reservations for Midway’s lots and garages can also be found at FlyChicago.com. 

Terminal 5 Updates
 The grand opening of the new extension of Terminal 5 was celebrated at O’Hare in January. The four-year, $1.3 billion investment constructed 10 new gates, renovated 10 existing gates, and expanded the structure by approximately 350,000 square feet. The Hispanic American Construction Industry Association (HACIA) named the Terminal 5 expansion and renovation its “Public Project of the Year” last month, noting the CDA’s “out-of-the-box thinking” on diversity and inclusion initiatives. 

Other key updates at Terminal 5 include: 

• Service aboard the Terminal Transfer Bus resumed earlier this month. The secure, airside bus service simplifies layovers for millions of passengers who connect through the world’s best-connected airport each year. Service runs every 15 minutes between Terminal 5 and the core terminals, with pick-up locations at Gate B1 in Terminal 1, Gates G17 and K20 in Terminal 3, and Gate M13 in Terminal 5. 
• Delta Air Lines, the third largest carrier at O’Hare, relocated operations to Terminal 5 last fall, utilizing gates M2 to M11. The airline’s new Delta Sky Club, located in Terminal 5 between Gates M11 and M14, has nearly quadruple the capacity of its previous location in Terminal 2. 
• Passengers arriving into Terminal 5 seeking a ride on a rideshare app like Uber or Lyft must transfer to Terminal 2 aboard the ATS. The change is the latest in a series of efforts by the CDA to reduce congestion in the lower-level arrival lanes at O’Hare by consolidating most app-based pickups at one location: the upper-level departures area of Terminal 2. Taxicab stands and black car pick-ups will continue to be available at all terminals, and all rideshare drivers will continue to drop off departing passengers as normal at all terminals. 
• Parking at Terminal 5’s Lot D remains extremely limited while construction crews continue their work on the new, six-story parking garage that will more than double the number of available parking at the terminal. Lot D customers, who typically meet passengers arriving on an international flight, are encouraged to consider other options, including waiting in the free Cell Phone Lot or utilizing the Main Parking Garage and transferring to Terminal 5 aboard the ATS. 

Arrive Early
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) may experience longer than usual wait times at security checkpoints given the influx of travelers. Real-time updates for O’Hare TSA checkpoints are available at FlyChicago.com.  

At O’Hare, a new CLEAR Lane and enrollment options are now available in Terminal 5 for PreCheck-eligible travelers and standard security. CLEAR Lanes are also available at O’Hare Terminals 1 and 2, and at Midway. 

To expedite the screening process, travelers should consult TSA guidelines to ensure there are no prohibited items in their carry-on or checked baggage, and that all foods are packed in accordance with the TSA’s rules regarding liquids. 

Interfaith Chapels Open
The Interfaith Airport Chapels, available at both airports, offer peaceful oases for worship, prayer, and quiet reflection to individuals of all faiths or of no faith at all. 

The chapel at O’Hare is located pre-security on the Mezzanine level of Terminal 2, above the JetBlue ticket counters and next door to the USO. The chapel at Midway is on the Mezzanine Level of Concourse C, post-security above the triangle food court. 

Both chapels provide a regular schedule of services, and additional services over the Holy Week calendar. 

Entertainment and Promotions
At O’Hare, from noon to 3 p.m. on Friday, March 31, travelers can get a free caricature drawing at the Family Lounge in Terminal 2. Blues guitarist Eric Noden will also serenade passengers from 1 to 4 p.m. on Friday, April 7, in the bridge connecting Terminal 1 to Terminal 2. Participating O’Hare retailers will also offer “Fun in the Sun” pop-up displays with great shopportunities for travelers heading to warmer climates. 

At Midway, travelers young and old can have their face painted in the Central Market from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, March 31. Guitarists from the Angelo Cicco Duo will also play the Central Market from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, April 7. And as part of the “Hello, Sunshine!” promotion, travelers who purchase three or more items from any Midway retailer will receive a free, reusable shopping bag from Monday, April 3 through Sunday, April 9. 

Travel Safely
While there are no current mandates, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to recommend all employees and travelers ages 2 and up wear a well-fitting mask or respirator while at indoor transportation facilities, including airports. The CDA reminds all passengers and staff to be courteous and respectful to each other.  The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) currently rates the city’s COVID-19 risk level as “low.” 

General Information
Travelers bound for Chicago’s airports can make the most informed decisions about how to access any of the above airport services by visiting FlyChicago.com. The website contains real-time information about flights, parking updates, taxicab wait times, available concession businesses, and other special alerts for the traveling public. The update “My Flight” search page shows specific flight updates, along with amenities located near the flight gate and other targeted travel resources. 

**Note that the statistics provided utilize CPS Spring Break, although many suburban school districts, universities and private schools observe Spring Break on different weeks. For the purposes of the statistical comparison, the dates utilized for 2022 were Friday, April 8, 2022, to Monday, April 18, 2022. The start date corresponds with the final day of CPS instruction prior to Spring Break, and the end date corresponds with Easter Monday.