Illinois Airports: Your Complete 2024 Guide

Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) is by far the busiest airport in Illinois and one of the busiest in the world. In 2024, O'Hare handled 80.04 million passengers, representing an 8.3% increase from 2023 and making it the eighth-busiest airport globally for passengers. It's also the second-busiest airport in the world for aircraft movements with 776,036 operations in 2024.

O'Hare is a major hub for United Airlines (46.3% market share) and American Airlines (29.2% market share), offering non-stop flights to 249 destinations worldwide across six continents. The airport features four terminals with nine concourses and 215 gates.

Illinois has an extensive aviation infrastructure with over 720 aviation facilities:

• 101 public airports - Including 12 commercial service airports
• 359 private airports
• 251 heliports
• 5 seaplane bases
• 2 gliderports
• 5 ultralight facilities

The 12 commercial service airports include O'Hare (ORD), Midway (MDW), Rockford (RFD), Peoria (PIA), Bloomington-Normal (BMI), Quad Cities (MLI), Springfield (SPI), Champaign (CMI), Quincy (UIN), Decatur (DEC), Marion (MWA), and Carbondale (MDH).

Choose O'Hare (ORD) if:

• You need international flights or connections to destinations worldwide (249 destinations)
• You prefer United Airlines or American Airlines (both have major hubs here)
• You want maximum flight options and schedule flexibility
• Your final destination is in the northern or northwestern suburbs

Choose Midway (MDW) if:

• You're flying Southwest Airlines (90%+ of Midway's service)
• You prefer a smaller, easier-to-navigate airport
• Your final destination is in downtown Chicago or southern suburbs (11 miles vs. 17 miles)
• You want lower parking costs and shorter security lines
• You're flying domestically within the U.S.

Transportation: Both airports have CTA rail connections to downtown - Blue Line from O'Hare and Orange Line from Midway. Taxi costs are $40-50 from O'Hare and $28-30 from Midway to downtown.

Chicago O'Hare (ORD):

• Economy Lots G & H: $15/day (cheapest on-airport option)
• Economy Lot F (covered): $22/day
• Main Garage/International: $42/day
• Off-airport options: $7.99-10.99/day with free shuttle

Chicago Midway (MDW):

• Daily Lot: $15-64 depending on duration

Regional Airports:

• Rockford (RFD): FREE parking with free shuttle
• Springfield (SPI): FREE parking
• Quad Cities (MLI): $7/day economy, $35/week premium

Pro Tip: Off-airport parking at O'Hare can save you 50-70% compared to on-airport garages, with free shuttle service every 5-10 minutes.

Four Illinois airports offer TSA PreCheck screening:

• Chicago O'Hare (ORD): Available at all terminals (1, 2, 3, and 5)
• Chicago Midway (MDW): Main checkpoint
• Peoria (PIA): Main checkpoint
• Rockford (RFD): Second level checkpoint

TSA PreCheck Benefits: 99% of passengers wait less than 10 minutes. No need to remove shoes, laptops, liquids, belts, or light jackets. Children 17 and under can join a PreCheck adult for free.

Cost: $78 for 5 years (approximately $15.60 per year)

Enrollment: Available at O'Hare and other Illinois locations. Central Illinois Regional Airport (BMI) hosts periodic pop-up enrollment events. You can search for enrollment centers at TSA.gov/precheck.

Major U.S. Carriers:

• United Airlines (largest at O'Hare with 46.3% market share, 37.08M passengers)
• American Airlines (second-largest at O'Hare with 29.2% share, 23.4M passengers)
• Southwest Airlines (dominant at Midway with 90%+ share, 18M+ passengers)
• Delta Air Lines
• Spirit Airlines
• Frontier Airlines
• Allegiant Air (primary carrier at Rockford, serves Peoria and Quad Cities)

International Carriers at O'Hare:

• Lufthansa, British Airways, Air France, KLM
• All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines, Korean Air
• Air Canada, Aer Lingus, Iberia
• Turkish Airlines, Emirates, Qatar Airways

Regional Carriers:

• United Express, American Eagle, Delta Connection
• Contour Airlines (Essential Air Service at Quincy)

If you want to avoid the crowds at O'Hare and Midway, consider these excellent regional alternatives:

Chicago Rockford International (RFD) - Best for northwest suburbs and Rockford area:

• 262,432 passengers in 2024 (vs. 80M at O'Hare)
• FREE parking with free shuttle service
• Short security lines, no crowds
• Allegiant Air service to 8 destinations including Las Vegas, Orlando, Phoenix, Tampa

General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International (PIA) - Best for Central Illinois:

• 687,601 passengers in 2024, won 2024 Primary Airport of the Year
• Service on Allegiant, American, and United to 13 destinations
• Convenient parking and easy airport navigation

Quad City International (MLI) - Best for western Illinois/Iowa border:

• 4 airlines serving 11 destinations including Charlotte
• Affordable parking ($7/day economy)
• Amenities include restaurants, outdoor patio, art gallery

Pro Tip: Regional airports typically offer shorter security wait times, easier parking, and less stress, though you may have fewer flight options and connecting flights through major hubs.

Yes! Illinois offers excellent flight training opportunities with numerous advantages:

Top Flight Schools:

• Illinois Aviation Academy (IAA): FAA Part 141 Approved with over 15 years of experience
• ATP Flight School: Locations at Chicago Executive (PWK) and DuPage (DPA) airports with accelerated training programs and airline partnerships with 39 regional airlines
• Chicago Executive Flight School (CEFS): Training students since 1994
• Aeronautics Academy: Based at Midway Airport

University Aviation Programs:

• Lewis University: Has its own airport (LOT) with the Harold E. White Aviation Center
• Southern Illinois University: Flight training program at Southern Illinois Airport (MDH)

Why Train in Illinois:

• More affordable than many other U.S. regions
• Strong aviation community with networking opportunities
• Experienced instructors and well-respected programs
• Multiple airports and facilities across the state (101 public airports)
• Direct pathways to airline careers through ATP partnerships

Chicago O'Hare (ORD) - 16 Lounges Total:

• United Club: 3 lounges in Terminal 1, 1 in Terminal 2 (United Club membership or day pass required)
• American Airlines: 4 lounges in Terminal 3, including Flagship First lounge
• Delta Sky Club: Terminal 5
• Swissport Lounge: Terminal 5 (Priority Pass accepted)
• USO Lounges: Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 (free for active duty military, guard, reserve, dependents, and retired military)

Chicago Midway (MDW) - New in 2024:

• Club MDW: First-ever lounge at Midway (3,300 square feet)
• Accessible via Priority Pass membership
• Day pass available for $50 with boarding pass
• Design inspired by Chicago's architectural history

Access Options:

• Airline membership programs (United Club, American Admirals Club, Delta Sky Club)
• Priority Pass membership (accepted at select lounges)
• Day passes (typically $50-75)
• Premium credit cards (many offer lounge access as a benefit)
• Military service (USO lounges at O'Hare are free for qualified personnel)

Chicago O'Hare (ORD) - Large International Hub:

• Domestic flights: Arrive 2 hours before departure
• International flights: Arrive 3 hours before departure
• Peak travel times (holidays, summer): Add 30-60 minutes
• With TSA PreCheck: Can reduce by 15-30 minutes, but don't cut it too close

Chicago Midway (MDW) - Medium-Sized Airport:

• Domestic flights: Arrive 90 minutes to 2 hours before departure
• Smaller and easier to navigate than O'Hare
• Still gets busy during peak times

Regional Airports (RFD, PIA, MLI, BMI, SPI):

• Arrive 60-90 minutes before departure
• Much shorter security lines and easier parking
• Can often get through security in 10-15 minutes

Peak Travel Periods Requiring Extra Time:

• Thanksgiving week (expect 1.8M+ passengers at Chicago airports)
• Christmas and New Year's holidays
• Summer months (June-August busiest at O'Hare)
• Monday mornings and Friday evenings
• Spring break periods