Midway International Airport

Template:Short description Template:Redirect Template:Other uses Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox airport

Chicago Midway International Airport Template:Airport codes is a major commercial airport on the southwest side of Chicago, Illinois, located approximately 12 miles (19 km) from the city's Loop business district, and divided between the city's Clearing and Garfield Ridge communities. Established in 1927, Midway served as Chicago's primary airport until the opening of O'Hare International Airport in 1944. Midway is one of the busiest airports in the nation and the second-busiest airport in both the Chicago metropolitan area and the state of Illinois, serving 22,050,489 passengers in 2023.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Midway is a base for Southwest Airlines,<ref>Schulte, Sarah. "SWA flights take off at Midway, airline's largest hub ." WLS-TV. April 4, 2011. Retrieved on April 4, 2011.</ref> which carries over 90% of the passengers at the airport. The airport was named in honor of the Battle of Midway. The defunct Midway Airlines, once headquartered at Midway, took its name from the airport. The airfield is located in a square mile bounded by 55th and 63rd Streets, Central and Cicero Avenues. The terminal complex was completed in 2001. The terminal bridges Cicero Avenue and contains 43 gates with facilities for international passengers. The CTA rapid transit Orange Line provides transit to Downtown Chicago, where it connects with other subway/elevated rapid transit lines.

History

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Early history (1923–1962)

Originally named Chicago Air Park,<ref name="usatoday">Template:Cite news</ref> Midway Airport was built on a Template:Convert plot in 1923 with one cinder runway mainly for airmail flights. In 1926, the city leased the airport and on December 12, 1927 named it Chicago Municipal Airport.<ref name="encyclopediaofchicago">Template:Cite web</ref> By 1928, the airport had twelve hangars and four runways, which were lit up for night operations.<ref name="history" />

A major fire early on June 25, 1930, destroyed two hangars and 27 aircraft, "12 of them tri-motor passenger planes." The loss was estimated at more than two million dollars. The destroyed hangars belonged to the Universal Air Lines, Inc. and the Grey Goose Airlines, the latter under lease to Stout Air Lines. The fire followed an explosion of undetermined cause in the Universal hangar.<ref>Associated Press, "27 Planes Burn In Chicago Fire", Sarasota Herald, Sarasota, Florida, Wednesday 25 June 1930, Volume 5, Number 224, page one.</ref>

In 1931, a new passenger terminal opened at 62nd St;<ref name="history" /> the following year the airport claimed to be the "World's Busiest" with over 100,846 passengers on 60,947 flights.<ref name="visitorsguide">Template:Cite web</ref> (The July 1932 Official Aviation Guide (OAG) shows 206 scheduled airline departures a week.)

More construction was funded in part by $1 million from the Works Progress Administration; the airport expanded to fill the square mile in 1938–41 after a court ordered the Chicago and Western Indiana Railroad to reroute tracks that had crossed the square along the northern edge of the older field.

The March 1939 OAG shows 47 weekday departures: 13 on United, 13 American, 9 TWA, 4 Northwest, and two each on Eastern, Braniff, Pennsylvania Central, and C&S.<ref>Template:Citation</ref> New York's airport (Newark, then LaGuardia by the end of 1939) was then the busiest airline airport in the United States, but Midway passed LaGuardia in 1948 and kept the title until 1960.<ref name="history" /> The record-breaking 1945 Japan–Washington flight of B-29s refueled at the airport on their way to Washington, DC.

In July 1949, the airport was renamed after the Battle of Midway.<ref name="visitorsguide" /> That year, Midway saw 3.2 million passengers. In 1959, passenger count peaked at 10 million.<ref>This video of Chicago Midway Airport in 1954 Template:Webarchive shows the increase in traffic that Midway Airport experienced during the 1950s.</ref> The diagram on the January 1951 C&GS approach chart shows four parallel pairs of runways, all Template:Convert or less, except for the Template:Convert runway 13R (current runway 13C) and the Template:Convert runway 4R.

The April 1957 OAG shows 414 weekday fixed-wing departures from Midway: 83 American, 83 United, 56 TWA, 40 Capital, 35 North Central, 28 Delta, 27 Eastern, 22 Northwest, 19 Ozark, 11 Braniff, 5 Trans-Canada, and 5 Lake Central. Air France, Lufthansa, and REAL (of Brazil) had a few flights per week.<ref>Template:Citation</ref>

Midway, being surrounded by buildings on all sides, meant that the airport was unable to expand; its runways were too short to safely handle larger four-engine jetliners (the Boeing 707 and the Douglas DC-8) that appeared in 1959. Instead, Chicago jet flights were directed to use O'Hare, which had opened to airlines in 1955. Lighter aircraft like turboprops Lockheed L-188 Electra's and Vickers Viscounts could have continued to fly out of Midway, but O'Hare's new terminal opened in 1962, allowing airlines to consolidate their flights. From July 1962 until July 1964 when United returned, Midway's only scheduled airline was Chicago Helicopter. In August 1966, a total of four fixed-wing arrivals were scheduled, all United 727s (United was alone at Midway until early 1968).

Post-O'Hare reconstruction (1963–1993)

By 1967, reconstruction began at the airport, adding three new concourses with 28 gates and three ticket counters,<ref name="visitorsguide" /> and in 1968, the city invested $10 million in renovation funds.<ref name="history" /> (For a few months during the 1967 renovation, Midway had no scheduled airline flights.)Template:Cn The funds partly supported construction of the Stevenson Expressway, and Midway saw the return of major airlines that year, with 1,663,074 passengers<ref>Airport Activity Statistics shows 208,086 total enplanements in 1968.</ref> on smaller-capacity, shorter range twin-jet and trijet airliners such as the McDonnell Douglas DC-9, BAC One-Eleven, Boeing 727, and Boeing 737 that could use Midway's runways, which the Boeing 707 and Douglas DC-8 could not.Template:Cn

In 1982, the city of Chicago purchased Midway Airport from the Chicago Board of Education for $16 million.<ref name="history">Template:Cite web</ref> Three years later, Southwest Airlines began operations at Midway.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Midway was a focus city for Vanguard Airlines from 1997 to 2000.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Carlton Midway Inn moved to allow the Chicago Transit Authority to create a new CTA terminal at the airport on Halloween of 1993. This development helped launch the Chicago 'L' Orange Line, connecting Midway to the Loop.<ref name="visitorsguide" /> Midway Airport serves as the terminus for the Orange Line, which traverses the southwestern section of the city before encircling the Loop. In contrast to the CTA Blue Line, which operates continuously throughout the day, the Orange Line runs from approximately 4:00 am to 1:00 am, nearly providing 24-hour service with trains arriving at intervals of about 8 minutes. For those traveling during the overnight hours, the N62 Archer bus offers an alternative mode of transportation. The journey from Midway to the Loop takes roughly 25 minutes once the train has departed.

Years of ATA (1994–2008)

In 1996, after failing to get his Lake Calumet Airport and having received harsh criticism for the idea of turning the airport into an industrial park, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley announced the Midway Airport Terminal Development Program, which was launched the following year. At the time, it was the largest public works project in the state.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Midway Airport parking garage opened in 1999, bringing covered parking to the airport for the first time. The garage is connected to the Midway terminal building for convenient access to ticket counters and baggage claim areas.<ref name="visitorsguide" />

Continuing with the expansion project, a pedestrian bridge over Cicero Avenue was built in the year 2000, connecting the new terminal to the new concourses.<ref name="history" /> In 2001 the new Template:Convert Midway Airport terminal building opened to the public with larger ticket counters, spacious baggage claim areas, traveler information, and a short walking distance to the gates.<ref name="visitorsguide" /> A Template:Convert food court opened as well, with Chicago-style food and retail options.

The expansion project culminated with a short-lived period of great airline diversity at Midway, as Vanguard Airlines, National Airlines and AirTran Airways all expanded their services to the airport.

ATA Airlines (ATA), also known as ATA Connection, whose primary hub was at Midway, took over Chicago Express Airlines. Chicago Express served as a regional airline connecting to airports around the Great Lakes regions.

Following the September 11 attacks, which resulted in a drop of passenger service, alongside other problems for the airline industry, both Vanguard and National ceased operations at Midway, making it defunct by 2002, with MetroJet being dissolved and refolded into the US Airways main line in late 2001.

In 2002, Midway welcomed the return of international service after a 40-year absence, with the opening of the new Federal Inspection Service facility in Concourse A.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>Template:Unreliable source?

In June 2004, Mayor Daley and airline officials celebrated the completion of the Terminal Development Program.<ref name="history" /> The project, designed by HNTB,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> resulted in the addition of 14 gates (from 29 to 43).<ref name="history" /> A new 6,300-space economy parking garage, including a new bridge and roadway for buses shuttling passengers to and from the terminal, opened in December 2005.<ref name="history" />

ATA Airlines began rapid expansion at Midway in the early 2000s (decade), and was the airport's dominant carrier prior to 2004, using 14 of the 17 gates in Concourse A.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> However, after the airline declared bankruptcy in October 2004, scheduled service from Midway significantly decreased.

For over 16 years, Midway had been the main hub for Indianapolis-based ATA, but the airline announced in March 2008 that it would end all flights from Midway on June 7, 2008.<ref name="ATA Press Release">Template:Cite web</ref> Before this, ATA had filed for bankruptcy on April 2, 2008,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and ceased all flights the following day.<ref name=mw>Template:Cite web</ref>

In November 2008, Porter Airlines, which flies between Midway and Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, was the only international route served from Chicago–Midway after ATA Airlines, which had flights to Mexico, ceased operations in April that year. On December 13, 2010, a second carrier, Volaris, began flights between Guadalajara and Midway.

Starting in early 2009, a construction project added a new walkway and food court to Concourse A. The project also connected gates A4A and A4B to the main A concourse. Expansions were completed in the spring of 2010.

Privatization attempts

Chicago has considered privatizing the airport, but the deals fell through in 2009 and 2013.

On April 20, 2009, a $2.5 billion deal to privatize the airport via a 99-year lease fell through, when the consortium could not put together financing. The city would have kept $125 million in the down payment. The consortium operating under the name of Midway Investment and Development Company LLC consisted of Vancouver Airport Services, Citi Infrastructure Investors, and Boston's John Hancock Life Insurance. It was awarded the contract in October 2008 by the City Council, which voted 49–0 in approval to it. The consortium would have operated the airport and collected airport parking, concession, and passenger facility charges. However, Chicago would have continued to provide fire and police services.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In September 2013, Mayor Rahm Emanuel terminated new negotiations to privatize the airport, noting that the process was no longer competitive after one of the two finalists had backed out. The one remaining was Great Lakes Airport Alliance – a partnership of Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets and Ferrovial. Macquarie was one of the investors in the Chicago Skyway. The group that backed out was a group that included the Australia-based Industry Funds Management and Manchester Airports Group. The Great Lakes proposal had been valued at $2 billion and would have involved a 40-year lease.<ref>Chicago Halts Airport Lease – WSJ.com Template:Webarchive. Online.wsj.com (September 5, 2013). Retrieved on September 18, 2013.</ref><ref>Emanuel halts Midway privatization bidding – Chicago Tribune . Articles.chicagotribune.com (September 6, 2013). Retrieved on September 18, 2013.</ref>

Modernization program

Construction began on expansions of the security checkpoint and main parking garage. The bridge spanning Cicero Ave was widened from Template:Convert to over Template:Convert, allowing up to 17 security lanes and a streamlined queue.<ref name="mp">Template:Cite web</ref> Because the current terminal opened just a few months prior to the September 11th attacks, the security area was quickly rendered too small for the new screening measures and was subsequently forced to expand inward, taking away from space in the concourses. The space that was reclaimed by moving security outward into the bridge will be redeveloped with an expansion of the central food court. The main parking garage was extended eastward over the CTA L tracks to add 1,500 spaces and to streamline the entrance way.<ref name="mp"/> In addition to the redeveloped central food court, new concession options will open in phases, including a food court in Concourse A, utilizing previously unused space built during the 2010 rebuild of the Gate A4A/B connecting walkway.<ref name="mp"/> The program is the largest capital improvement project at the airport since the 2001 terminal redevelopment and has been fully completed.

Facilities

All terminals and hangars were on the square periphery. By the late 1970s, the shorter north–south and east–west runway pairs had been closed; some were converted into taxiways. The other four runways remain in use, all strengthened and enhanced, at still about the same lengths. A short runway (13R/31L) for light aircraft was added in 1989.

Chicago Midway International Airport covers just over one square mile (Template:Convert)<ref name="FAA" /><ref>Template:Cite web FAA data effective April 17, 2025.</ref> and has four active runways:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

13L/31R: Template:Convert, air carrier runway, ILS-equipped
4R/22L: Template:Convert, air carrier runway, ILS-equipped
4L/22R: Template:Convert, general aviation and air taxi
13R/31L: Template:Convert, light aircraft only

Midway is surrounded by buildings and other development, so the landing thresholds of the runways are displaced to provide obstacle clearance. The FAA and the airlines ensure safety by adhering to calculated load limits and various weather minimums. Because of the displaced landing thresholds, the runways have shorter distances available for landings than for takeoffs. 13L/31R, the longest runway in Midway, only has an available landing distance of Template:Convert in the southeast direction, and Template:Convert to the northwest. The largest aircraft normally seen at Midway is the Boeing 757. Normally, commercial planes only take off from, and land on, runways 4R/22L and 13L/31R. The other runways are used by smaller aircraft and, per the US FAA Chart Supplement, are restricted from use by large commercial aircraft, except for emergencies.<ref>Template:Cite web Full link updates regularly: Search for MDW</ref> Former runway 13L/31R was permanently closed after 82 years on August 9, 2023, and was converted to Taxiway H.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Terminal

Midway has 43 aircraft gates on three concourses.<ref name="MidwayConcourses">Template:Cite web</ref>

Concourse A has 17 gates.<ref name="MidwayConcourses" />
Concourse B has 23 gates.<ref name="MidwayConcourses" />
Concourse C has 3 gates.<ref name="MidwayConcourses" />

Airlines and destinations

Passenger

Template:Airport destination list

Ground transportation

The airport terminal is connected by a walkway to Midway station. The station serves as a major local bus station for Chicago Transit Authority buses, and is the western terminus of the Chicago "L" Orange Line. The Orange Line connects the airport to The Loop in the city center, with a travel time of approximately 30 minutes.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Midway station is also served by suburban bus operator Pace, and River Valley Metro operates regional services to Manteno and Bourbonnais in Kankakee County.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Statistics

Top destinations

Busiest domestic routes from MDW (August 2024 - July 2025)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Rank	City	Passengers	Carriers
1	Template:Flagicon Atlanta, Georgia	429,270	Delta, Frontier, Southwest
2	Template:Flagicon Phoenix–Sky Harbor, Arizona	405,550	Frontier, Southwest
3	Template:Flagicon Orlando, Florida	396,080	Frontier, Southwest
4	Template:Flagicon Las Vegas, Nevada	390,590	Frontier, Southwest
5	Template:Flagicon Denver, Colorado	376,280	Frontier, Southwest
6	Template:Flagicon New York–LaGuardia, New York	323,600	Southwest
7	Template:Flagicon Dallas–Love, Texas	276,810	Southwest
8	Template:Flagicon Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota	256,480	Delta, Southwest
9	Template:Flagicon Houston–Hobby, Texas	252,730	Southwest
10	Template:Flagicon Baltimore, Maryland	238,490	Frontier, Southwest

Template:Nowrap
Rank	Airport	Passengers	Carriers
1	Template:Flagicon Cancún, Mexico	142,177	Frontier, Southwest
2	Template:Flagicon Morelia, Mexico	139,406	Volaris
3	Template:Flagicon Guadalajara, Mexico	98,744	Volaris
4	Template:Flagicon Toronto–Billy Bishop, Canada	81,196	Porter
5	Template:Flagicon León/Del Bajío, Mexico	75,826	Volaris
6	Template:Flagicon Aguascalientes, Mexico	72,918	Volaris
7	Template:Flagicon Zacatecas, Mexico	45,336	Volaris
8	Template:Flagicon Punta Cana, Dominican Republic	43,426	Southwest
9	Template:Flagicon Durango, Mexico	39,307	Volaris
10	Template:Flagicon Montego Bay, Jamaica	38,592	Southwest

Airline market share

Top airlines at MDW
(August 2024 - July 2025)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Rank	Airline	Passengers	Percent of market share
1	Southwest Airlines	17,076,000	91.96%
2	Frontier Airlines	834,000	4.49%
3	Delta Air Lines	304,000	1.64%
4	SkyWest	214,000	1.15%
5	Others	135,000	0.76%

Airport traffic

Annual passenger traffic at MDW
2000–Present<ref name=CAS>Template:Cite web</ref>
Year	Passengers	Year	Passengers
2000	15,672,688	2016	Template:Increase 22,677,589
2001	Template:Decrease 15,628,886	2017	Template:Decrease 22,460,236
2002	Template:Increase 16,959,229	2018	Template:Decrease 22,027,737
2003	Template:Increase 18,644,372	2019	Template:Decrease 20,844,860
2004	Template:Increase 19,718,236	2020	Template:Decrease 8,853,948
2005	Template:Decrease 17,862,838	2021	Template:Increase 15,893,595
2006	Template:Increase 18,868,388	2022	Template:Increase 19,916,643
2007	Template:Increase 19,378,855	2023	Template:Increase 22,050,489
2008	Template:Decrease 17,345,635	2024	Template:Decrease 21,513,521
2009	Template:Decrease 17,089,365	2025
2010	Template:Increase 17,676,413	2026
2011	Template:Increase 18,883,170	2027
2012	Template:Increase 19,516,127	2028
2013	Template:Increase 20,474,552	2029
2015	Template:Increase 22,221,499	2030

Accidents and incidents

On December 8, 1972, United Air Lines Flight 553, a Boeing 737-200, crashed into a residential area outside Midway during landing. The crash of the 737-200 killed 43 of the 61 on board, and two on the ground. One of the victims on the plane was Dorothy Hunt, the wife of Watergate conspirator E. Howard Hunt. She was carrying $10,000 in cash. James McCord alleged that she supplied the Watergate defendants with money for legal expenses.<ref name="St. Petersburg Times">Template:Cite news</ref>

Thirty-three years later, on December 8, 2005, Southwest Airlines Flight 1248, a Boeing 737-700 inbound from Baltimore–Washington International Airport in Baltimore, Maryland, slid off the runway while attempting to land at the airport in a heavy snow storm.<ref name="BBC1" /> The airplane broke through the barrier fence of the airport and came to rest at the intersection of 55th Street and Central Avenue bordering the airport at its northwest corner.<ref name="BBC1" /> Seven people were injured and a 6-year-old boy, who was a passenger in a vehicle struck by aircraft, was killed after the plane struck two vehicles in the intersection.<ref name="BBC1">Template:Cite news</ref>

List of all major incidents at MDW
Date	Registration	Aircraft type	Carrier	Location	Summary
May 31, 1936	NC14979	DC-2	Trans World Airlines	-	On approach to the west airstrip (later designated Runway 27L), 1 engine out, strong gusts, crashed half a mile east of field. All survived.
December 4, 1940	NC25678	DC-3A	United Airlines	6356 S. Keating Ave.	Pilot lost sight in bad weather and crashed on landing approach resulting in ten deaths.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
May 20, 1943	42–7053	B-24E	U.S. Army Air Force	3625 W. 73rd St.	On approach, disoriented in bad weather, hit huge gas storage tank Template:Convert southeast. 12 fatalities on plane and ground.<ref>Chicago, Illinois, "Gas Tank Quiz Promised in Air Disaster – Bomber Crash Kills 12 on Board", Chicago Daily Tribune, May 21, 1943, page 1.</ref><ref>War Department, U.S. Army Air Forces Form 14, Report of Aircraft Accident, May 25, 1943.</ref>
Template:Nowrap	NC19939	DC-3	Trans World Airlines	West of 96th Ave. at 97th St.	Midair collision with Boeing PT-17, which crashed, killing two. The DC-3 limped in to Midway.
July 2, 1946	NC28383	DC-3	Trans World Airlines	-	Crashed Template:Convert northeast of field. All survived.
March 10, 1948	NC37478	DC-4	Delta Air Lines	5000 W. 55th St.	Plane took off on 36R, at Template:Convert went vertical, at Template:Convert nosed over, crashed on 55th St. 12 fatalities.
March 26, 1949	NC90736	DC-6	American Airlines	-	Hit power lines on approach. All survived.
December 8, 1949	NC86501	L-049	Trans World Airlines	-	Landing too far down (then designated) 13R, crashed through fence, ended up at 63rd and Cicero. All survived.
January 4, 1951	N79982	C-46	Monarch Airlines	-	Overloaded taking off on (then designated) 31L, could not climb, crashed on railroad tracks one half-mile northeast. All survived.
September 16, 1951	N74689	C-46	Peninsula Transport	-	Belly-landed Template:Convert away at northeast 63rd and Harlem. All survived.
March 3, 1953	N6214C	L-1049	Eastern Airlines	On field	Landed on (then designated) 31L, gear collapsed, skidded southwest toward Hale School. All survived.
July 17, 1955	N3422	Convair 340	Braniff International Airways	On field	Hit gas station sign on approach to (then designated) 13R, flipped over, crashed. 22 fatalities.
August 5, 1955	N74601	Boeing 377	Northwest Airlines	-	Landed on (then designated) 31L, could not stop, crashed through fence at 55th and Central. All survived.
February 20, 1956	N7404	Vickers Viscount	Capitol	On field	Landing on 31R, plane flopped in Template:Convert short of threshold. All survived.
March 15, 1959	N94273	Convair 240	American Airlines	-	Lost sight of (then designated) 31L on approach, crashed in railroad yard one half-mile south of field. All survived.
Template:Nowrap	N102R	L-1049H	Trans World Airlines	Came to rest 63rd and Kilpatrick	Plane departed (then designated) 31L, fire on engine No. 2, circled to land 31L, crashed Template:Convert southeast of field. All three persons aboard were killed, along with eight more on the ground.
September 1, 1961	N86511	L-049	Trans World Airlines	-	Plane departed Midway, lost elevator bolt, crashed near Hinsdale, Illinois, resulting in 78 deaths.
December 8, 1972	N9031U	737-200	United Airlines	71st and Springfield	Aircraft descended too low on approach to 31L (now 31C) and struck houses, crashed Template:Convert southeast of airport, causing 43 fatalities aboard the aircraft and two on the ground.
March 25, 1976	N1EM	Lockheed Jetstar	Executive	On field	Pilot unfamiliar with plane attempted take off on 13R (now 13C), never became airborne, crashed into fence 63rd and Cicero. Four fatalities.
August 6, 1976	N9446Z	TB-25N	Air Chicago	61st and Moody Avenue	Poor maintenance, and first flight of the plane in two years. It took off 4L, lost engine 2, and crashed Template:Convert west of field, killing two aboard and one on the ground.
December 8, 2005	N471WN	737-700	Southwest Airlines	55th & Central	Landed 31C during a snowstorm, crashed through a fence, hit 2 cars, killed a child in car on 55th St. and Central Ave.

Source: Civil Aeronautics Board archives, NTSB records.

Note: Prior to 1941, the runways did not have numerical designations. The runway now designated 13C/31C was designated 13R/31L from 1941 until 1989, when a new Runway 13R/31L was built. Runways 27L, 27R, 36L and 36R were closed by 1973.

References

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External links

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