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Chicago O'Hare Reclaims Title of America's Busiest Airport by One Measure

Feb. 04, 2019
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2 min read
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Chicago O'Hare Reclaims Title of America's Busiest Airport by One Measure
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After four years in a row, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) has been ousted from its No. 1 spot as the busiest airport in the United States, as ranked by total number of flights.

Reclaiming that title is Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), which last held the distinction in 2014. According to data from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released Monday, good ol' O'Hare processed more than 903,000 arrivals and departures in 2018 — a number it last attained in 2007. The busiest months for Chicago took place during June and July. June 27 was the busiest day of 2018 with 2,847 arrivals and departures.

Meanwhile, ATL processed 895,000 arrivals and departures, claiming second place, while Los Angeles (LAX), Dallas Fort-Worth (DFW) and Denver (DEN) rounded out the top five.

Atlanta still holds the crown - and by a comfortable margin - as the world's busiest airport by arriving passengers. ATL saw 103.9 million arriving passengers while Chicago O’Hare had just 79.8 million in 2017, the most recent full year reported by Airport Council International. Don't expect O'Hare to catch up in that regard anytime soon, especially because more of its flights are operated on smaller jets, including regional planes, while Atlanta generally has larger aircraft.

If anyone in Atlanta is worried about being dethroned for most arriving passengers, Beijing's Capital International Airport (PEK) would be the one to watch. With 95.7 million arriving passengers in 2017 and larger passenger capacity than Atlanta as of 2018, Beijing will likely have the most passengers of any airport in the world in the near future.

Chicago has increased operations by 4.2% since last year, compared to Atlanta's mere 1.8% increase. The increase is primarily due to expansions by United Airlines, which is the largest carrier operating out of ORD. This past year, United added more flights from its headquarters hub to a number of smaller destinations in the Midwest. The airport also saw a 5.7% increase on the cargo transportation side, with 1.87 million metric tons of cargo passing through ORD airport grounds in 2018.

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Unfortunately for everyone involved, Chicago O'Hare still ranks low on passenger satisfaction, according to the 2018 North American Airport Satisfaction Survey by J.D. Power. Hopefully Chicago's $8.5 billion expansion plans will help improve that score.

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Why We Chose It

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  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

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  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
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  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
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