For the first time in six years, Chicago can now claim the busiest airport in the country.
According to newly released preliminary data from the Federal Aviation Administration, 857,392 aircraft landed or took off from Chicago O’Hare International Airport in 2025.
O’Hare is the busiest airport in the U.S.
This is significantly more than the 807,625 takeoffs and landings recorded at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport during the same period, which has held the title of the world’s busiest airport for years.
Mayor Brandon Johnson said in a news release:
This is more than just a statistic; it’s a statement about Chicago’s momentum.
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.
According to the latest figures from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Atlanta still had more passengers as of October 2025, with 89.5 million compared to Chicago O’Hare’s 66.8 million.
However, just wait until 2028: O’Hare is expected to become even busier with the completion of a new 19-gate Concourse D, part of a $1.3 billion improvement and expansion project currently underway.