Chicago has three airports
that connect the city to the rest of the world. They
are O'Hare International Airport, Midway Airport, and
Meigs Field. In 1949 Chicago changed the name of Orchard
Field to O'Hare Airport after Edwin O'Hare. O'Hare is
the world's busiest airport with 1200 flights every
day. It has planes taking off and landing every 11 seconds.
In 1997 O'Hare served over 70,000,000 passengers. In
1998 and 1999 O'Hare was elected "best airport
in the world." O'Hare handles more freight and
mail than any other airport in the country.
It is located northwest of the loop.
Many people go to O'Hare on helicopters, expressways,
and buses. The ATS is a people mover that connects the
three domestic terminals in the center core, which is
the International Terminal, and Economy parking. The
traffic at O'hare is being studied. The Regional plan
Commission may need to make O'Hare bigger as larger
airliners come into use. Then, more of the smaller planes
will be sent to Midway.
Midway airport is Chicago's oldest
airport. It once was the world's busiest airport, but
now Midway's runways are too short to handle big jet
planes. Midway closed in 1962; however, it opened later
for small planes to travel shorter distances.
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