OPEN YOUR BUSINESS AT ORD

Stop by tomorrow's O'Hare Airport Concessions Symposium!

Join the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) for the O’Hare International Airport Concessions Symposium on Wednesday, Nov. 1 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the UIC Forum, 725 W. Roosevelt Road, to learn about concessions opportunities at O’Hare International Airport. Online registration is closed, but on-site registration is still available.

Learn more

THANKING THOSE WHO SERVED

Final Honor Flight of 2023 season sends veterans to Washington from Midway

More than 110 Chicago-area veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces who served in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War took off from Midway International Airport on Oct. 18 for a day trip to visit the National Memorials in Washington, D.C. The trip wrapped up Honor Flight Chicago’s 2023 season. More than 10,500 veterans have made the trip through Honor Flight Chicago since the program launched in 2009.

The Post-Tribune highlighted the trip with a profile of 77-year-old Vietnam veteran George Hessenthaler of Schererville, Indiana.

“It’s overwhelming. It’s a long time coming. It’s very emotional. I’m at a loss for words,” Hessenthaler told the Post-Tribune. “It’s what this day is about, this last hour. You think you know what’s coming but you can’t be prepared. For 55 years, I’ve been waiting for this.”

Read more from the Post-Tribune

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MMF!

O'Hare Multi-Modal Facility turns 5

Halloween marks the five-year anniversary of O’Hare’s Multi-Modal Facility (MMF) opening to the public in 2018. The state-of-the-art, 2.5 million square-foot building connects the airport's ground transportation operations in one central access point, with convenient access to Metra trains, regional buses and the Airport Transit System (ATS) for quick connections to O’Hare’s terminals.

The MMF also houses all airport rental car operations and includes two floors and over 2,600 spaces of public parking with Economy Lot F. Since its opening, more than 860,000 vehicles have parked in Lot F and more than 1.1 million cars have been rented at the facility.

Earlier this year, the MMF was awarded both Parksmart Silver and LEED Silver certifications to recognize the building’s environmental and sustainability innovations.

Pace launches full daily Pulse Dempster Line service from Evanston to O'Hare

Pace Bus launched full daily service on its Pulse Dempster Line this week, allowing quick and frequent public transit transfers between the world’s second busiest airport and several nearby suburban communities, including Evanston, Skokie, Morton Grove, Niles, Park Ridge, Des Plaines and Rosemont.

The rapid bus service runs from downtown Evanston along Dempster to the Des Plaines Metra station, and then south to O’Hare’s MMF. Sunday-only “sneak preview” service on the route started in August ahead of the full launch.

The service is Pace’s latest service innovation, offering faster bus service with fewer stops, accessible trip information and modern amenities such as free Wi-Fi and passenger accessibility in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Each Pulse bus that operates along the line comes equipped with advanced transit signal priority that extends green lights and minimizes red lights to help Pace riders conquer congestion.

Read more

SHOWCASING LOCAL TALENT

Terminal 5 art installation nears completion

In partnership with the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), the CDA began to unveil a collection of 19 works by Chicago artists in the newly renovated and expanded areas of Terminal 5 this month.

The $3.5 million public art commission is the City of Chicago's largest single acquisition of work by local artists in the last 30 years.

“For millions of passengers, Terminal 5 is their first impression of not only Chicago, but our entire country — and there is no better way to showcase the essence, the diversity, and the beauty of Chicago than through the arts,” said Chicago Department of Aviation Commissioner Jamie L. Rhee.

A celebratory event with the artists, their families and City officials will take place in November.

Read more

New Garrett Popcorn shop opens at Midway

Garrett Popcorn Shops opened its second location at Midway International Airport this month.

The new shop, located near Gate B14, is open daily from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., serving Garrett’s iconic Chicago popcorn in a variety of collectible tins.

Earlier this year, the chain opened its first-ever location at the South Side airport on National Popcorn Day, January 19.

Several new concessions are set to open at Midway in the coming months as the airport's concessions redevelopment program wraps up its final phases.

O'Hare's annual Plane Pull raises money for Special Olympics Illinois

More than 100 teams participated in the 15th Annual Special Olympics Illinois Law Enforcement Torch Run Plane Pull Sept. 30 on O’Hare’s airfield. The teams — divided into Public Safety, Fitness, Corporate and Open divisions — tested their strength by competing to be the fastest to pull a United Airlines jet 12 feet, all while raising money to benefit Special Olympics Illinois.

The Chicago Barbell Compound team from the Fitness Division came out on top with a time of 5.784 seconds.

Read more

THE RESULTS ARE IN!

O'Hare restaurants honored in USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice Awards

USA Today readers recognized three O’Hare concessionaires as some of the best airport restaurants in the country in the paper’s recent “10Best Readers’ Choice Awards.”

Publican Tavern and Chicago Cubs Bar & Grill placed in the Top 10 for Best Airport Sit-Down Restaurant, while Tortas Frontera by Rick Bayless was recognized in the Top 10 for Best Airport Grab-and-Go Food.

THANK YOU, TSA!

TSA staff keep pace with growing passenger volumes nationwide

As passenger checkpoint screening volumes surpass pre-pandemic levels, the CDA thanks its federal partners at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for their diligent work keeping the nation’s airports safe while helping travelers get to their gates in a timely manner.

As of Oct. 14, 99.6% of passengers in the United States waited less than 30 minutes at TSA checkpoints, while 89.2% waited less than 15 minutes, according to TSA data. Nationwide passenger volumes through checkpoints have surpassed 2 million nearly every day this month.

IATA brings Financial, Passenger symposiums to Chicago

The International Air Travel Association (IATA) hosted this year's World Financial Symposium and World Passenger Symposium in Chicago last week at McCormick Place. Discussions covered everything from aviation technology to financial sustainability and the passenger experience.

Chicago's Chief Operating Officer, John Roberson, welcomed more than 1,200 attendees on behalf of Mayor Brandon Johnson, offering an overview of Chicago’s airports and highlighting upcoming improvements at O’Hare and Midway.

LOOKIN' GOURD-GEOUS!

Airport concessionaires compete in Halloween pumpkin decorating contest

Concessions operators at both of Chicago's airports decorated pumpkins this month to compete in the O'Hare Pumpkin Carve-Off and Midway Pumpkin Palooza contests.

Voting was open to the public until Oct. 30 to decide the best pumpkin at each airport — check out the top three at O'Hare above!

• Frontier Airlines: MDW to Cancun, Mexico (CUN) daily service starts Nov. 16
• Southwest Airlines: MDW to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (PUJ) weekly seasonal service starts Nov. 11
• American Airlines: ORD to Aruba (AUA) weekly seasonal service starts Nov. 11
• United Airlines: ORD to Kona, Hawaii (KOA) weekly seasonal service starts Nov. 4
• Spirit Airlines: ORD to New York LaGuardia (LGA) daily service starts Nov. 5
• Volaris Airlines: ORD to Guatemala City (GUA) 3x weekly service starts Nov. 4