The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) projects that more than 1.8 million passengers will pass through O’Hare and Midway International Airports between Tuesday, November 26, and Monday, December 2.
O’Hare is expected to see an 11.4% increase in Thanksgiving traffic compared to 2023. According to the CDA, 1.5 million travelers will pass through O’Hare alone, with Sunday, December 1, anticipated to be the busiest travel day of the weekend.
How to stay prepared
As travel surges over the coming days, it’s important to plan ahead to avoid unnecessary stress, whether you’re flying into or out of Chicago.
Travelers should prepare for longer-than-usual security checkpoint wait times and potential delays.
Most airlines recommend arriving at the airport at least 2 hours before departure for domestic flights and 3 hours ahead for international departures.
Getting to O’Hare and Midway
It goes without saying that additional traffic is to be expected over the holiday season, so travelers will want to factor longer airport commutes into their overall travel time.
To bypass expressway congestion altogether, consider taking the CTA, which offers direct access to both O’Hare and Midway airports via the Blue and Orange Lines, respectively.
Rideshares also provide a convenient option for getting to the airport. Click here for detailed information on rideshare drop-off and pick-up locations at Chicago’s airports.