Time Zone: CDT (GMT -5)
Airport Code: ORD
Customer service number: 800 832-6352
Distance from city: 18 miles (29km)
Terminal
1 is for United and United Express flights plus Lufthansa departures.
Terminal
2 airlines include Air Canada, America West, Continental, Northwest,
United and US Airways.
Terminal
3 airlines include Alaska, American and Delta.
Terminal
5 is the international terminal for most non-US airline departures
and all international arrivals
Chicago O Hare is named after Lieutenant Edward O'Hare who was a
military hero, and flew planes in the Navy during WW2. He was awarded
the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1942.
The largest US troop and cargo carrying airplane, the Douglas C-54,
was built at a factory on the site and the base, known then as Orchard
Field, which was almost entirely then used by the military. When the war
ended, Chicago’s city Municipal Airport, later to become Midway
Chicago quickly established itself as the world's busiest civil aviation
operation. A far-sighted City Council saw the potential for air travel
and decided a second major facility would be needed so in 1946 they bought
Orchard Field from the US government together with another 7,000 acres
next door. Three years later $2.4 million was spent on acquiring more
land and Orchard Field was re-named in honour of O'Hare.
The airport was already busy before it was officially opened to domestic
commercial flights in 1955, but Midway was still the star attraction until
1962 when all scheduled operations were transferred from Midway to O'Hare.
When the airport was officially dedicated the following year, President
John F. Kennedy said, “it could be classed as one of the wonders
of the modern world”. He was right in one sense because O'Hare
preserved its title as 'World's Busiest' for over 30 years
until it was overtaken by Atlanta in 1998.