Airports Expect Over Two Million Travelers

The Chicago Department of Aviation said more than 2 million travelers were expected to pass through O’Hare and Midway International Airports over the Memorial Day travel period, making the holiday one of the busiest early tests of the summer season in the city. Airport projections put roughly 1.75 million passengers at O’Hare and nearly 292,000 at Midway from Thursday, May 21, through Tuesday, May 26, according to figures cited by NBC Chicago. CBS Chicago, citing the department, reported the total at more than 2 million travelers from Thursday through Monday, with about 300,000 expected at Midway. The Chicago forecast comes as security lines and terminal traffic typically build around Memorial Day, when airlines, airports and federal screeners begin handling summer-style passenger volumes. The Transportation Security Administration said its travel guidance asks passengers to arrive prepared for screening and to check packing and identification rules before heading to the airport. ### How many travelers are Chicago’s airports expecting? (nbcchicago.com) The Chicago Department of Aviation forecast a little more than 2 million passengers combined at the two airports for the holiday stretch, according to local reports citing the agency. NBC Chicago reported 1.75 million travelers at O’Hare and nearly 292,000 at Midway between Thursday and Tuesday. CBS Chicago reported more than 2 million travelers between Thursday and Monday, with another 300,000 going through Midway. (tsa.gov) The larger share is concentrated at O’Hare, where the year-over-year increase was steeper. NBC Chicago said O’Hare’s projected holiday traffic was about 15% above the 2025 Memorial Day period, while Midway’s forecast was up 3% from a year earlier. ### Which airport is carrying most of the holiday rush? (nbcchicago.com) O’Hare International Airport is handling the overwhelming majority of the expected volume. The airport’s projected 1.75 million passengers account for most of the combined Memorial Day traffic in Chicago, while Midway’s holiday total was projected at just under 292,000 by NBC Chicago and about 300,000 by CBS Chicago. (nbcchicago.com) Chicago’s aviation department oversees both airports, but the traffic split reflects O’Hare’s role as the city’s main international and hub airport. The department says it administers all aspects of O’Hare and Midway operations. ### When are the busiest airport days expected to hit? Friday was expected to be the busiest day at both airports, according to CBS Chicago. NBC Chicago reported Friday was projected to be O’Hare’s busiest day and also Midway’s busiest, with nearly 54,000 passengers expected at Midway that day. (nbcchicago.com) Holiday peaks do not spread evenly across the period, and that matters for travelers trying to time drop-offs, parking and security screening. (chicago.gov) NBC Chicago said the increase in passengers could mean longer-than-usual waits at security checkpoints. ### What are TSA and airport officials telling passengers to do? (cbsnews.com) The Transportation Security Administration says travelers should review screening rules before arriving at the airport and use AskTSA for live assistance on packing and checkpoint questions. TSA’s travel tips page directs passengers to confirm what can go in carry-on or checked bags and to prepare identification before screening. Chicago-area reporting citing the aviation department said passengers should prepare for longer lines and arrive early because of heavier traffic through terminals and checkpoints. (nbcchicago.com) FlyChicago also directs passengers to current flight-status tools while noting that airlines provide the underlying flight information and that travelers should verify status directly with their carrier. (tsa.gov) ### Where should travelers check before leaving for the airport? FlyChicago’s airport sites provide arrivals, departures and delay information for O’Hare and Midway, along with links to maps, security information and ground transportation. The city’s airport system says those pages are the official online portals for both airports. As the Memorial Day travel period continues through May 26 under the longer airport forecast window cited by NBC Chicago, passengers can monitor airline flight status, check FlyChicago for airport conditions and use TSA’s travel guidance and AskTSA service before heading to O’Hare or Midway. (nbcchicago.com) (flychicago.com)