Two Million Expected at Chicago Airports This Week

If you’re passing through one of Chicago’s two international airports over the Thanksgiving holiday, be prepared to be among millions of other travelers.

O’Hare and Midway airports are likely to be among the busiest in the nation over the holiday with almost two million passengers expected, the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) said yesterday.

At both Chicago airports, passenger volume has increased by one percent compared to last year, according to ticket sale information. That breaks down to about 1.3 million passengers passing through O’Hare between Wednesday and Monday. About 535,000 passengers will travel via Midway during the seven-day Thanksgiving holiday travel period, according to the CDA statement.

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The busiest of the days is predicted to be Sunday, November 26, when about O’Hare will see about 249,000 travelers and about 90,000 will pass through Midway.

Aviation department officials in the city said new security technology unveiled last week at Midway should make the process smoother for harried travelers. In addition, O’Hare continues to report some of the shortest Transportation Security Administration checkpoint wait times in the country.

“The Chicago Department of Aviation and our airport partners are well prepared to provide a safe and efficient experience for millions of travelers making their way to see friends and family this Thanksgiving holiday,” Ginger S. Evans, CDA commissioner, said in a statement. “The increase in passenger volume we’re projecting at our airports is consistent with the trend we’ve seen all year long, and shows clearly that the demand for air travel through Chicago continues to be among the strongest in the nation.”

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To make the travel experience at the airports more enjoyable there will be live music at O’Hare and a Thanksgiving parade complete with themed characters at Midway.

The concessions at both airports are also sponsoring a Black Friday event they're calling "Black Friday Weekend” from November 24 through November 26, during which restaurants and shops will offer special discounts.

The CDA is encouraging travelers to arrive at the airport at least two hours in advance of domestic flights and three hours in advance of international flights.

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