Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (ORD) is starting 2026 with the impressive title of busiest airport in the U.S.
That's according to newly released preliminary data from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that reveals a whopping 857,392 aircraft landed or took off from ORD in 2025.
That figure is higher than any other airport in the country, including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport's (ATL) 807,625 takeoffs and landings. ATL had previously held the title of busiest U.S. airfield since the COVID-19 pandemic at the start of the decade.
"This is more than a statistic, it’s a statement about Chicago’s momentum," Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said in a statement. "From the runways of O’Hare to the neighborhoods across our city, Chicago is building, growing, and leading. We are open for business, open to the world, and once again setting the pace for the nation.”
"This achievement for O'Hare is a powerful reflection of Chicago’s momentum and our unmatched connectivity to the world," added Kristen Reynolds, President and CEO of Choose Chicago, the city's official destination marketing organization.
"Our airports are more than international hubs for transportation—they are our front door, the first touch point for millions of visitors every year, and a symbol of how Chicago is Never Done and Never Outdone," said Reynolds. "Having the busiest airport in the United States underscores the strength of our aviation partners, our workforce, and our visitor economy, and it reinforces Chicago’s position as a global hub for both business and leisure travel."
About 30 miles southeast of O'Hare, Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) ranked 38th in the nation for takeoffs and landings, with 210,930 last year, according to preliminary FAA data. That means that, across both ORD and MDW, an aircraft took off or landed in Chicago every 30 seconds in 2025.
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