Nov 01, 2025

What is Chicago Airport (ORD) like?

by Aviation Pin

Aerial view of Chicago O’Hare Airport (ORD) from Google Earth showing all terminals and runways of one of the busiest airports in the United States.

Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), on the city’s Northwest Side, is the region’s aviation heartbeat. In 2024 it handled 80,043,050 passengers; it serves as a hub for United and American, with over 30 passenger airlines and more than 25 cargo carriers. Recognized as the most connected airport in the United States, it operates over 1,200 nonstop flights each day linking 176 U.S. cities and 60 international destinations.

ORD quick facts

8 active runways · longest runway 10L/28R: 13,000 feet
80,043,050 passengers in 2024
Over 1,200 nonstop flights daily
176 U.S. cities · 60 international destinations
214 operations per hour in visual conditions (one every 17 seconds)

Runways and air operations at O’Hare Airport

ORD has 8 runways: 6 parallel from east to west and 2 diagonals. This layout allows the airport to use the runway best aligned with the wind at any time, keeping arrivals and departures flowing in parallel and switching to the diagonals when winds shift, reducing bottlenecks and improving efficiency.

O’Hare’s longest runway and performance

The longest runway, 10L/28R, stretches 13,000 feet. It can handle heavy widebody aircraft at full takeoff weight even in heat, rain, or snow, maintaining safe spacing for simultaneous operations.

How many operations per hour does Chicago Airport handle?

According to FAA data, ORD can manage up to 214 operations per hour in visual conditions, about one every 17 seconds. It’s a clear reflection of its precision and flow management.

Passenger terminals at O’Hare Airport

ORD operates 4 passenger terminals: Terminal 1, Terminal 2, Terminal 3, and Terminal 5.

Role of each terminal at Chicago Airport

T1: home base for United and much of Star Alliance, offering smooth domestic and international connections across the UA network.
T2: focused on United Express; it serves as a bridge to the future Global Terminal under the O’Hare 21 modernization program.
T3: American Airlines and partners’ main hub, handling a heavy domestic schedule with strong connectivity.
T5: the multi-airline international terminal; after expansion, it now also hosts Delta, Southwest, and Frontier.

What happened to Terminal 4 at O’Hare?

Terminal 4 was a temporary facility used in the 1980s. Its functions were absorbed by Terminal 5, and T4 is no longer an active passenger terminal today.

O’Hare Airport Pin, a collectible that honors Chicago

From airport people to airport people.

In honor of Chicago O’Hare International Airport, we created a pin that captures its essence in the shape of Illinois. The design features a terminal, the control tower, the Airport Transit System (ATS), and the ORD code. Clean finish and defined colors give it an elegant presence, perfect for wearing or collecting.

What’s included with the O’Hare Airport Pin

Includes a collectible backing card, a rubber clutch, and a magnetic security lock. It can be used as a pin or as a magnet on metal surfaces and comes in premium packaging ready for gifting or display.

Chicago O’Hare International Airport is Illinois’s front door, a symbol of teamwork, precision, and pride. If ORD is part of your story, this is your pin.