O'Hare, Midway airports expected to see 3.6 million passengers during holiday travel rush
Holiday travel is projected to hit record-high numbers, eclipsing the record set five years ago, as travelers hit the road or take to the skies over the next few days.
Auto club AAA projects 119.3 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home between Saturday and New Year's Day. This year's holiday travel would surpass the previous record set in 2019 by 64,000 travelers.
More than 7.85 million people were expected to travel by air over the holidays, surpassing last year's record of 7.5 million, AAA said.
Of those airline passengers, 3.6 million were predicted to arrive at O'Hare and Midway airports between Friday and Jan. 2, the Chicago Department of Aviation said. The busiest days are expected to be Monday at O'Hare and Dec. 29 at Midway.
Nearly 243,000 passengers were expected to pass through O'Hare on Monday while the following Sunday more than 51,000 people would pass through Midway.
O'Hare was projected to welcome nearly 3.05 million people over the next 14 days — about 220,000 more passengers than last year.
“With Chicago’s airports serving as gateways for millions of travelers each holiday season, the CDA is dedicated to delivering a world-class experience for everyone passing through,” CDA Commissioner Jamie L. Rhee said. “Our teams at O’Hare and Midway are dedicated to ensuring holiday journeys are smooth and enjoyable, with safety and security remaining our top priority as we welcome travelers during this special time of year.”
The holiday travel rush started off bumpy Friday morning when flights out of O'Hare were delayed due to a ground stop caused by snow and ice. About 876 flights were delayed at O'Hare while 150 were delayed at Midway as of 6 p.m. Friday.
Nearly 90% of holiday travelers would be driving to their destinations, AAA said. About 107 million people were expected to travel by car — 2.5 million more than last year.
The worst traffic in the Chicago area was projected to be Sunday afternoon along Interstate 94, between Chicago and Milwaukee, AAA said. The 90-mile trip could take over 2 hours.
At $3.05 a gallon, gas prices are lower than last year, AAA said. The national average was $3.12 during the last two weeks of 2023.
It's been a busy year for holiday travel, with record numbers during Memorial Day, July Fourth and Thanksgiving.