Facilities Ranking
Safety Ranking
Environmental Ranking
• Region: North America
• Country/State: United States (Illinois)
• City/Town: Chicago
• Website: https://www.flychicago.com/ohare
• Type of Airport: International (major global hub)
• Airport code/s:
o IATA: ORD
o ICAO: KORD
• Terminals:
– Terminal 1: United Airlines (domestic and international departures)
– Terminal 2: Delta Air Lines and select domestic carriers
– Terminal 3: American Airlines (domestic and some international departures)
– Terminal 5: International arrivals and select international departures
• Passenger numbers:
– ~73–75 million passengers annually (2023–2024 estimate; among the world’s busiest airports)
Parking
• Short-term: Multi-storey short-stay parking garages adjacent to terminals
• Long-term: Economy parking lots with shuttle and people-mover connections
• Valet: Premium valet services available in selected garages
Hotel
• On site:
– Hilton Chicago O’Hare Airport (connected to Terminal 2 via underground walkway)
• Nearby:
– Numerous hotels in the O’Hare airport corridor (5–15 minutes by road or shuttle)
Other facilities
• Restaurants/cafes: Extensive range from fast food to full-service dining; strong Chicago-branded offerings
• Bars: Numerous licensed bars and cocktail lounges across all terminals
• Lounges: Wide range of airline lounges (United Clubs, Polaris Lounge, American Admirals Club, Delta Sky Club, international carrier lounges)
• Duty-free shops: Extensive duty-free retail primarily in Terminal 5
• Gift shops/newsagent/chemist: Large selection of retail, bookstores and pharmacy services
• On-site travel agent: Airline ticketing offices and airport service desks
• Help desk/Lost & found: Airport information desks and City of Chicago lost & found services
• Car rental: Consolidated rental car facility accessed via people mover
• Taxi/transport to city: Taxis, ride-hailing, CTA Blue Line rail, buses and private transfers
• Baby/parent room: Nursing rooms and family facilities throughout terminals
• Business center/free-Wi-Fi/charging: Free Wi-Fi airport-wide; abundant charging stations
• Gym: No public terminal gym
• Beauty center/hairdresser: Limited grooming and spa-style services airside
• Other facilities: Medical clinics, chapels, yoga room, art exhibitions
• Biometric check-in: Biometric boarding and facial recognition used by selected airlines
• Biometric customs: US CBP biometric entry processing in Terminal 5
Disabled/accessibility
• Free PRM assistance available via airline or airport
• Wheelchair assistance from curbside to gate and arrivals
• Fully step-free terminals with elevators, ramps and people movers
• Accessible parking spaces in all garages
• Accessible toilets throughout terminals
• Priority security screening available
• Assistance dogs permitted
• Support for non-visible disabilities via trained staff and sunflower lanyard program
Runways
• Runway 09L/27R
• Runway 09R/27L
• Runway 10L/28R
• Runway 10C/28C
• Runway 10R/28L
• Runway 04L/22R
• Runway 04R/22L
• Runway 14R/32L
Length/Width
• Longest runways: ~3,962 m × 60 m
• Multiple Code F-capable runways supporting A380, B747-8 and all widebody types
Grooving of runways
• Grooved runway surfaces across primary runways
• Advanced drainage systems for snow, ice and heavy rainfall
ILS/CAT capability
• ILS installed on multiple runways
• CAT I, CAT II and CAT III capability available
• Supports very low-visibility operations
Navigation aids
• ILS with PAPI visual guidance
• Multiple VOR/DME facilities
• RNAV (GNSS-based) SIDs and STARs
• Advanced FAA NextGen surveillance and sequencing systems
Low-visibility operations
– Comprehensive Low Visibility Procedures (LVP) in place
– Airport designed to maintain operations during fog, snow and severe winter weather
On-time departures (OTP) data
• OTP affected by:
– Weather (snow, thunderstorms, wind)
– High traffic volumes and hub-banking
• Performance supported by parallel runway layout and advanced ATC flow management
Airfield restrictions
• No night curfew; 24-hour operations
• Noise abatement procedures for surrounding communities
• Preferential runway use depending on wind, weather and noise considerations
Aircraft maintenance
• Extensive line and heavy maintenance facilities operated by major hub airlines
• Large-scale hangar complexes on airport property
• Oversight by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
Eco-efficient operations (e.g., energy use, carbon minimization, waste management, etc.)
• Airport-wide sustainability and carbon-reduction programs led by the City of Chicago
• Fixed electrical ground power and pre-conditioned air widely deployed
• Comprehensive waste reduction and recycling initiatives
Renewable energy use
• Significant off-site renewable energy procurement
• On-site solar installations at support facilities
• LED lighting and energy-management systems across terminals
Availability of biofuel alternatives
• Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) available through airline-led supply agreements
• ORD participates in US SAF scaling initiatives
Conservation of biodiversity [actual programs]
• Wildlife hazard management tailored to grassland and wetland environments
• Stormwater management protecting local waterways
Sustainable transportation
• Direct CTA Blue Line rail service to downtown Chicago
• Strong promotion of public transport and shared mobility
• Progressive electrification of airport ground-service and fleet vehicles
Green building design
• Ongoing terminal redevelopment emphasising energy efficiency and passenger flow
• Sustainable materials and lifecycle carbon reduction embedded in capital projects
• Environmental standards aligned with City of Chicago climate goals
