Overview
- Preliminary FAA data show 857,392 takeoffs and landings at Chicago O'Hare in 2025 versus 807,625 at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta.
- It is the first time in six years that Chicago can claim the national lead based on aircraft movements.
- Bureau of Transportation Statistics figures through October 2025 indicate more passengers at Atlanta, 89.5 million to O'Hare's 66.8 million, with full-year totals still pending.
- Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson hailed the operations lead as a sign of the city's momentum in an official statement.
- O'Hare has a $1.3 billion expansion underway that includes a planned 19-gate Concourse D targeted for 2028 to boost capacity.