It’s been a significant year for Chicago’s mighty O’Hare International Airport. A grand opening at the start of 2023 unveiled an expanded and renovated Terminal 5 after four years and $1.3 billion worth of work improving terminal capacity, passenger amenity space, and overall terminal efficiency.
A $3.5 million public art commission led by Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) and the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) then gave the terminal a colorful new identity this fall revealing an array of public art installations by more than 20 Chicago artists.
As one of the most connected mega-hub airports in the world, and one of the only airports offering flights to every inhabited continent, it may come as no surprise that O’Hare International Airport has once again been ranked the best airport in the country in Global Traveler Magazine’s 20th Annual GT Tested Reader Survey Awards.
Carried out by The Global Traveler — a magazine for frequent luxury travelers — The GT Tested Reader Survey awards excellence in 104 travel-related categories including airlines, hotels, loyalty programs, and travel-related products based on the opinions of more than 20,000 readers.
Since its inception, O’Hare International Airport HAS claimed top honors in the category of Best Airport in North America by Global Traveler (GT) every year for 20 years running.
“Chicagoans pride ourselves in making everyone feel like they are at home, and we strive every day to make sure that sense of community is felt for busy passengers traveling through our airports,” said City of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson.
“To be given this award by Global Traveler’s readers for 20 straight years is an honor, and it proves yet again that Chicago is second to none when it comes to the courtesy and service we provide to residents and visitors.”
Global Traveler Publisher and CEO Francis X. Gallagher, praised O’Hare for “offering options and ease many large airports are missing” while commending the airport on its consistency in taking the title in every year of the survey’s existence.
O’Hare also finished second best in the world in the Best Airport Dining category behind iGA Istanbul Airport which won Best Airport Shopping, Best Airport in Europe, and the Best Overall Airport in the World categories.
United Airlines, which is headquartered at Chicago’s Willis Tower and has its largest hub at O’Hare International Airport, finished top of the Best Trans-Atlantic Airline category but was beaten by Air Canada to being crowned the Best Airline in North America.
Read the full survey here.[Featured image from Shutterstock]