Chicago Airports Brace for 2M Memorial Day Travelers

The Chicago Department of Aviation said on May 21 that O’Hare and Midway International Airports are preparing for more than 2 million passengers over the Memorial Day travel stretch, one of the busiest holiday periods of the year. The agency’s estimate covers Thursday through Tuesday and points to heavier traffic than the same holiday period in 2025. Most of the volume is expected at O’Hare, where nearly 1.75 million passengers are projected to move through the airport. Midway is expected to handle about 292,000 travelers over the same period. ### How many travelers are Chicago’s airports expecting? The Chicago Department of Aviation estimated a little more than 2 million passengers combined at the two airports from Thursday, May 21, through Tuesday, May 26. The figures were reported by local outlets citing the department’s holiday travel projections. At O’Hare, about 1.75 million passengers are expected during the period, up 15% from the 2025 Memorial Day stretch, according to the department. At Midway, the projection is about 292,000 passengers, up 3% from a year earlier. ### Which airport will carry most of the rush? O’Hare will carry the bulk of the holiday traffic by a wide margin. (chicago.suntimes.com) The airport’s projected 1.75 million travelers account for nearly all of the increase in the combined total, while Midway’s forecast remains below 300,000. Chicago’s airport system has been building toward larger holiday totals in recent years. (chicago.suntimes.com) The Chicago Department of Aviation projected 1.86 million Memorial Day travelers in 2025 and 1.67 million in 2024, according to prior city releases. ### When are the busiest airport days expected? Friday is expected to be the busiest day at both O’Hare and Midway, the Chicago Department of Aviation said. (chicago.suntimes.com) The Transportation Security Administration warned that travelers could face longer security lines during the holiday period and advised passengers to arrive early. (chicago.gov) FlyChicago posts checkpoint and airport updates for travelers heading to O’Hare and Midway. The airport system’s websites also carry flight, ground transportation and terminal information for passengers checking conditions before leaving for the airport. ### What are airlines saying about the weekend? United Airlines, the largest carrier at O’Hare, expects to carry more than 470,000 travelers on its O’Hare flights over the holiday weekend, the Sun-Times reported. (chicago.suntimes.com) The airline said that works out to about 79,000 daily travelers flying to nearly 180 destinations. (flychicago.com) American Airlines, another major O’Hare carrier, has also pointed to heavier seasonal demand in Chicago in recent holiday periods, though the latest citywide forecast centers on overall airport traffic rather than airline-by-airline totals. ### What are city officials telling passengers to do? (chicago.suntimes.com) Chicago Aviation Commissioner Michael McMurray said in a statement that Memorial Day weekend is “a very busy and exciting time” for travelers and airport workers at O’Hare and Midway. City and federal officials have paired that message with a practical warning: passengers should leave extra time for security screening and terminal crowds. (chicago.suntimes.com) The Chicago Department of Aviation oversees both O’Hare and Midway and publishes operational updates through the city and FlyChicago websites. The agency said Friday will be the peak day, making early departures for the airport and advance checks of flight and checkpoint information the main next steps for travelers heading out over the holiday weekend. (chicago.gov) (chicago.suntimes.com)