Mayor Brandon Johnson has announced that Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport has officially been named the busiest airfield in the United States, according to new preliminary data from the Federal Aviation Administration.
In 2025, 857,392 aircraft either landed or took off from the airport, with final global rankings and full passenger figures still pending.
Mayor Brandon Johnson, said:This is more than a statistic, it's a statement about Chicago's momentum.
From the runways of O'Hare to the neighbourhoods 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.
The milestone, according to the Chicago Department of Aviation, underscores the need to continue to invest in Chicago’s multi-billion-dollar ORDNext programme, which aims to steadily expand capacity, improve the passenger experience and prepare the airport for the next generation of air travel – starting with the construction of the 1.3 billion USD 19-gate New Concourse D, which is scheduled for completion in late 2028.
Phil Clement, President & CEO of World Business Chicago, said:O'Hare's return as the busiest airport in America underscores one of Chicago's greatest competitive advantages: unmatched global connectivity.
For companies deciding where to locate, expand, or invest, access to markets, talent, and customers is critical—and O'Hare sits at the center of that equation. This recognition reinforces the importance of continued investment in our airports, including the ORDNext capital program and the new $1.3 billion Concourse D, recent examples of why O'Hare continues to deliver one of the best airport experiences in the country.
Elsewhere; preliminary data also shows that Midway International Airport was ranked 38th in the nation for takeoffs and landings, with 210,930 being completed in 2025. Between O’Hare and Midway, an aircraft either took off or landed in Chicago every 30 seconds throughout 2025.
