CHICAGO — O'Hare International Airport has reclaimed its title as the busiest airfield in the world, according to new data released by Airports Council International World. Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Department of Aviation announced the results of the study on Wednesday.
In 2025, O'Hare recorded 860,015 aircraft operations, a 10.8 percent increase over 2024. The city said that pace equals one takeoff or landing every 37 seconds, around the clock, every day of the year. O'Hare last held the top spot in 2019.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Department of Aviation announced the results of the study on Wednesday.
"Being home to the busiest airport in the world is a point of pride for every Chicagoan," Mayor Brandon Johnson said. "It reflects our city’s enduring strength as a global economic engine, even in complex and evolving times. Chicago sets the pace, and the world takes notice."
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ACI World data shows O'Hare was 6.1 percent busier in 2025 than Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the next busiest airport by flight operations. The top ten rankings in 2025 include:
Johnson went on to thank the "dedicated team" at CDA, Commissioner Michael McMurray, and the more than 46,000 workers at O'Hare "whose daily commitment keeps our city
moving."
The return to No. 1 reflects O'Hare's eight-runway system, which the city said was developed over 16 years, along with the airport's global connectivity, regional reach and cargo role. With service to nearly 280 destinations in 2026, O'Hare has also been ranked by the Official Aviation Guide as the most connected airport in the United States since 2017, according to the announcement.
"This milestone is both a point of pride and a call to action," McMurray said. "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."
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Through the $8.2 billion ORDNext program, the Chicago Department of Aviation is advancing upgrades that include 43 new gates across Concourses D and E and the O'Hare Global Terminal, which will replace Terminal 2.
O'Hare also ranked sixth globally in passenger traffic, with 84.8 million passengers, up 6 percent and two spots from 2024.
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