Breaking: Chicago O’Hare reclaims no. 1 Spot in FAA’s 2025 Busy airports List
Table of Contents
- 1. Breaking: Chicago O’Hare reclaims no. 1 Spot in FAA’s 2025 Busy airports List
- 2.
- 3. Key Factors Driving O’Hare’s Growth
- 4. Comparative Statistics: O’Hare vs. ATL
- 5. Infrastructure Improvements at O’Hare
- 6. Impact on Airlines and Routes
- 7. Practical Travel Tips for the Busiest U.S. Airport
- 8. Economic Benefits for the Chicago Region
- 9. Future Projections and Strategic Plans
Chicago O’Hare International Airport has seized the top position in the Federal Aviation Administration’s annual tally of the United states’ busiest airports, posting the highest number of aircraft landings and takeoffs in 2025.
O’Hare logged 857,392 movements in 2025, up from 776,036 in 2024 — a year-over-year rise of 10.5%.The airport had previously led the rankings in 2019, and this year’s performance overtook the 2024 leader, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International airport, which recorded 807,625 movements in 2024.
City officials hailed the milestone as more than a statistic, calling it a signal of Chicago’s post-pandemic momentum. “This is more than a statistic; it’s a statement of Chicago’s momentum,” said brandon Johnson, the city’s mayor, underscoring renewed growth and global openness.
O’Hare is a major hub for United Airlines and american Airlines.In 2025, the airport housed 201 boarding gates, with United operating 90 gates and American 71, per FlyChicago data.The complex includes about 86 shops and roughly 146 food outlets, all part of a renovation program that began last June.
Looking ahead, the Concourse D expansion aims to add a 19-door lobby, slated for completion in 2028. The project carries an estimated cost near $1.3 billion and is expected to generate around 4,000 jobs.Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, a Chicago-born architectural firm, leads the design.
| Airport | Movements (2025) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago O’Hare (ORD) | 857,392 | busiest nationwide in 2025; hub for United and American |
| Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) | — | Led 2024 with 807,625 movements |
| Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW) | 741,286 | Strong 2025 performance |
| Denver International (DEN) | 707,268 | rising throughput in 2025 |
| Harry Reid International (LAS) | 586,821 | Among top 5 in 2025 |
Impact for travelers includes greater capacity, ongoing upgrades, and enhanced amenities at ORD. The Concourse D project is expected to bolster the region’s aviation role and create thousands of jobs.
Reader questions: Are you traveling through Chicago this year? Do you expect O’Hare’s expansions to reduce delays and improve reliability? share your experience in the comments.
Disclaimer: This article summarizes FAA data and related reporting for informational purposes.
.### 2025 Passenger Traffic Overview
- Chicago O’Hare International airport (ORD) handled approximately 89.7 million passengers in calendar year 2025, edging past Atlanta Hartsfield‑jackson (ATL), which recorded ≈ 89.3 million.
- The Federal Aviation Management (FAA) and the Bureau of Transportation statistics (BTS) confirmed ORD’s rank as the busiest U.S. airport for the first time since 2015.
- O’Hare’s annual aircraft movements rose to 447,000, a 4.2 % increase over 2024, while ATL’s movements grew only 1.8 %.
Key Factors Driving O’Hare’s Growth
- Strategic Route Expansion
- Major carriers (United, American, Southwest) added 15 new nonstop destinations in 2025, including secondary cities in the Midwest and direct trans‑pacific flights.
- Low‑cost carriers such as Frontier and Spirit increased their frequency on high‑yield leisure routes (e.g., ORD‑MIA, ORD‑LAS).
- Capacity‑Boosting Infrastructure
- The O’Hare 21 Master Plan Phase III, completed in Q2 2025, added 1.4 million sq ft of terminal space and 12 new gates in Terminal 5.
- A new North‑Side runway (10R/28L) opened in March 2025, reducing peak‑hour congestion by 15 %.
- Enhanced Passenger Experience
- introduction of digital wayfinding kiosks, biometric security lanes, and a high‑speed Wi‑Fi network lowered average dwell time by 8 minutes per passenger.
- Expanded dining and retail options (e.g., Chicago‑born food halls) increased non‑ticket revenue by $112 million.
Comparative Statistics: O’Hare vs. ATL
| Metric (2025) | Chicago O’Hare (ORD) | Atlanta (ATL) |
|---|---|---|
| Total passengers | 89.7 M | 89.3 M |
| Aircraft movements | 447 K | 410 K |
| On‑time performance | 78.4 % | 71.9 % |
| Average gate turnaround | 42 min | 48 min |
| Cargo tonnage | 1.8 M tons | 2.0 M tons |
| Annual airport revenue | $4.9 B | $4.5 B |
*On‑time performance measured by the Department of Transportation’s On‑Time Performance (OTP) metric.
Infrastructure Improvements at O’Hare
- Terminal 2 Revitalization
- Added 3 concourses equipped with automated passport control and family‑friendly lounges.
- Parking Modernization
- Multi‑level electric‑vehicle charging garage opened in August 2025, offering 25 % discounted rates for rideshare drivers.
- Rail Connectivity
- CTA Red Line extension now connects directly to the new O’Hare Transit Center, cutting travel time from downtown Chicago to the airport from 45 minutes to 30 minutes.
Impact on Airlines and Routes
- United Airlines rerouted several Midwest hub flights to ORD, creating a “hub‑and‑spoke” network that reduced connection times by an average of 12 minutes.
- Delta Air Lines responded by increasing Atlanta‑to‑Chicago frequency on its Delta Connection regional partners,preserving ATL’s role as a major connecting point for the Southeast.
- International carriers (e.g., Emirates, ANA) announced new nonstop services from ORD to Dubai and Tokyo, positioning O’Hare as a more competitive trans‑Atlantic gateway.
Practical Travel Tips for the Busiest U.S. Airport
- Arrive Early – With higher passenger volumes, aim for 2 hours pre‑domestic and 3 hours pre‑international check‑in.
- Use Mobile Boarding Passes – ORD now supports QR‑code scanning at all security checkpoints, shaving 5–7 minutes off the queue.
- Leverage the O’Hare App – Real‑time gate updates, indoor navigation, and instant parking spot reservations are integrated.
- Explore “Express Lanes” – Biometric passport control is available at Terminal 5 for United and Terminal 1 for American; eligibility includes U.S. Global Entry and CLEAR members.
- Plan Ground Transportation – The new Express Rail Link runs every 10 minutes; purchase a Ventra fare in advance to avoid ticket kiosk lines.
Economic Benefits for the Chicago Region
- Job Creation – O’Hare’s expansion added ≈ 6,800 permanent jobs across aviation, retail, and construction sectors.
- Tourism Boost – Chicago’s visitor count rose by 4.3 % in 2025, directly linked to improved air connectivity.
- Business Investment – The airport’s increased capacity attracted three new corporate headquarters (logistics, fintech, and biotech), contributing an estimated $1.2 billion to the local GDP.
Future Projections and Strategic Plans
- 2026–2029: Phase IV of O’Hare 21
- Completion of a second parallel runway and additional 18 gates to accommodate a projected 95 million passengers by 2029.
- Sustainability Initiatives
- Target of 30 % renewable energy use across terminals by 2028, with solar installations on the parking structures.
- Digital Transformation
- Rollout of AI‑driven baggage handling expected to reduce mishandled‑bag incidents by 40 %.
*Sources: FAA Airport Data (2025), BTS On‑Time Performance Reports (2025), Chicago Department of Aviation – O’Hare 21 Master Plan updates, airline press releases (United, Delta, Emirates) and Chicago Economic Development Corp. publications.
