Airports Council International (AIC) data shows that Chicago led the globe in take-offs and landings in 2025. Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) announced the news that O’Hare International Airport has reclaimed its position as the busiest airfield in the world.
In 2025, O’Hare recorded 860,015 aircraft operations, a 10.8% increase over 2024, and the equivalent of one take-off or landing every 37 seconds, around the clock, every day.
“Being home to the busiest airport in the world is a point of pride for every Chicagoan,” said Mayor Johnson. “It reflects our city’s enduring strength as a global economic engine, even in complex and evolving times.”
O’Hare last held the top spot in 2019. The airport’s return to number one reflects unmatched operational capacity, powered by an eight-runway system developed over 16 years that stands as the most advanced airfield configuration of any civilian airport in the world, together with global connectivity, deep regional reach, and its strength as a premier cargo hub.
With service to nearly 280 destinations in 2026, O’Hare remains one of the most connected airports in the world and has been ranked by the Official Aviation Guide (OAG) as the most connected airport in the United States since 2017. Through the $8.2bn ORDNext programme, CDA is advancing critical upgrades, including 43 new gates across Concourses D and E and the transformative O’Hare Global Terminal, which will replace Terminal 2.
“This milestone is both a point of pride and a call to action,” said CDA Commissioner Michael McMurray. “O’Hare’s airfield leads the world in capacity, and now we must ensure our terminals, technology, and passenger experience rise to meet that standard. Continued investment is not optional—it is essential to maintaining Chicago’s global competitiveness.”
McMurray added: “We also extend our sincere thanks to American and United Airlines for their continued investment and partnership in helping drive this vision forward.”
US senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), said: “As the nation’s busiest airport and leading hub for connections, I urge the Federal Aviation Administration to prioritise funding for O’Hare International Airport to ensure continued safe and efficient travel experiences for Illinoisans and travellers from all across the country.”
The ACI World’s data shows O’Hare was 6.1% busier in 2025 than the next busiest airport by flight operations, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International. The top ten rankings in 2025 include:
- O’Hare International Airport — 860,015
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport — 807,625
- Dallas Fort Worth International Airport — 743,3944.
- Denver International Airport — 701,335
- Harry Reid International Airport, Las Vegas — 586,046
- Los Angeles International Airport — 580,996
- Charlotte Douglas International Airport — 574,193
- Shanghai Pudong International Airport — 557,046
- Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport — 550,512
- Istanbul Airport — 549,309
Passenger rankings also released by ACI World, place O’Hare sixth globally by passengers, with 84.8m passengers.
“We congratulate the world’s busiest airports for managing growing air travel demand amid increasing operational complexity,” said ACI World Director Justin Erbacci. “These hubs keep people and goods moving, supporting global trade, tourism, and economic growth in their communities and regions. To help keep pace with rising demand, governments must prioritise sustained investment in airports and the broader aviation ecosystem.”
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