O'Hare is big, very big. So big it can be intimidating. For 30 years, until 1998 when it lost its position to Atlanta, it was the world's busiest airport.
Over 70 million people a year use the airport - an average of over 192,000 each day. The site covers 7,700 acres, has four terminals with a total of 162 aircraft gates and 50 airlines providing domestic and international passenger and cargo services.
Impressed? You should be by this massive and usually efficient operation. But if you are one of the thousands crowding its departure and arrivals areas how does it stack up? Well, 'crowded' could be a reasonably fair comment. Terminal 5 has certainly eased the stress of travelers on international airlines who have their own facility away from the domestic traffic.
As you would expect from one of the world's busiest O'Hare makes some large claims about itself. It is undeniably a major hub of air transportation in the US but is it, as the airport publicity machine says, the world's best ?
Most of the services you would expect from a major airport are on offer and O'Hare keeps its facilities constantly under review. The problem sometimes is sharing them with so many people. A new policy of franchising has led to a better selection of shops, restaurant and bar facilities.
One feature in keeping with the airport's investment in passenger comfort is the 'people mover'. The Airport Transit System links the three domestic terminals, Terminal 1, Terminal 2 and Terminal 3, the international terminal, Terminal 5, and the long stay parking lots. An efficient solution to one of O'Hare's major problems - getting around.
There is no doubt that a policy of continuous improvement at O'Hare is reaping rewards. The only question is can the airport keep up with the continuing rise in passenger numbers and aircraft movements in the future? Time will tell.
