Chicago Takes Flight: O’Hare Crowned America’s Busiest Airfield

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson announced that O’Hare International Airport is the busiest airfield in the United States, according to newly released preliminary data from the Federal Aviation Administration.

In 2025, 857,392 aircraft landed or took off from O’Hare — more than any other airport in America. 

While final global rankings and full passenger figures for 2025 are still pending, the FAA’s operations data confirms what Chicagoans already know: O’Hare is the beating heart of American aviation and a cornerstone of the nation’s economy. 

“This is more than a statistic, it’s a statement about Chicago’s momentum,” said Johnson. “From the runways of O’Hare to the neighborhoods 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.” 

Officials said O’Hare’s return to the top spot, displacing Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, reflects a powerful post-pandemic recovery, the strength of Chicago’s workforce, and the impact of sustained investment in airport modernization, airfield capacity, and global connectivity.

Major airlines operate flights from South Carolina  to Chicago O'Hare and Atlanta.

Officials also said the milestone underscores the need to continue to invest in Chicago’s multi-billion-dollar ORDNext program, which is expanding capacity, improving the passenger experience, and preparing the airport for the next generation of global air travel, starting with the $1.3 billion, 19-gate New Concourse D, scheduled for completion in late 2028.