CHICAGO MIDWAY AIRPORT (MDW) INFORMATION

Chicago Midway International Airport is a major commercial airport that is located on the south side of Chicago, Illinois, USA, only 8 miles/13 km from the Loop in central Chicago. The airport is also known as Midway International Airport, Midway Airport, Chicago Midway or just Midway. The IATA code is MDW and the ICAO code is KMDW.

It was established in 1927 and served as the primary airport in Chicago until 1955 when O’Hare International Airport opened and today it is the second-largest airport in both the state of Illinois and the metropolitan Chicago area, and it is the airport that is closest to central Chicago.

The airport was originally named Chicago Air Park back in 1923 when it was just an airfield with one cinder runway and was mainly used for airmail flights. In 1926 the city of Chicago leased the airfield and in 1927 they renamed it Chicago Municipal Airport and only one year later it had twelve hangars and four runways, operational for nights as well as days.

A new passenger terminal was built in 1931 and in the following year the airport was claimed the “World’s Busiest” and more construction was funded over the next decade, and in 1948 the airport passed LaGuardia (airport in New York) as the busiest airline airport in the United States, a title they kept until 1960.

In July of 1949 the airport was renamed after the Battle of Midway.

After the opening of O’Hare and due to the fact that Midway couldn’t handle the jet planes that appeared in 1959 the airport saw a period with very few flights with Chicago Helicopter as the only scheduled airline from July of 1962 to July of 1964 when United returned.

A reconstruction of the airport began in 1967 adding the three concourses.

The city of Chicago purchased Midway Airport from the Chicago Board of Education in 1982 and in 1985 Southwest Airlines began their operations there.

Today Chicago Midway International Airport is operated by the Chicago Department of Aviation and it is the base for Southwest Airlines, which carries more than 95% of the passengers that come through the airport.

The airport sits in a square mile bounded by 55th, 63rd Streets and Central and Cicero Avenues.

The airport has 5 runways: 2 asphalt runways (5,507 ft/1,679m and 5,141 ft/1,567 m), 2 concrete runways (6,522 ft/1,988 m and 3,859 ft/1,176 m) and 1 asphalt/concrete runway (6,445 ft/1,964 m).

Chicago Midway has one single passenger terminal with 3 Concourses attached to it through a bridge over Cicero Avenue. The Concourses are named A, B and C and they have a total of 43 Gates. Concourse A has 19 Gates, Concourse B has 26 Gates and Concourse C has 3 Gates.

The concourses are all interconnected via the Central Market area and passengers that have cleared the security or arrive on a domestic flight can move freely between the Concourses

Arrivals, Departures and Airlines at Chicago Midway International Airport

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Transfers at Chicago Midway International Airport

Rental Cars – All car rental companies at Chicago Midway Airport are located at 5150 W. 55th Street. Rental Car shuttle pick-up is located on Lower Level Door 2 and they are scheduled to run every 15 minutes 24/7.

Buses – The public transport buses arrive and depart at CTA Midway Transportation Center that is connected with the terminal via an enclosed walkway.

Nine CTA bus lines run between the Loop in central Chicago and the airport, operating from early morning until after midnight all days of the week in both directions. Fares can be paid directly on the bus in exact change or via the Ventra system, available at the CTA Midway Transportation Center and other locations in the city.

Seven Pace bus lines run between Chicago suburbs and Midway Airport. Fares are bought on the bus, with a contactless credit card or in exact change in fare boxes, or via the Ventra system.

Shuttles and Private Transfers – There are several types of shuttles and private transfers available at Midway Airport, including hotel shuttles pre-arranged by various hotels, airport parking shuttles for onsite and offsite parking, as well as the rental car shuttles. The shuttles arrive and depart in different areas.

Regional Buses – Various bus companies service the airport with some of the states surrounding Illinois.

Taxis – There are many different taxi companies that will transfer travelers to or from Midway Airport. Which company that suits you best depends on which area you are transferring from.

Trains – The Orange Line “L”, the Chicago Transit Authority train system, runs from the Loop to the airport from early morning until after midnight. Tickets are purchased in machines at the station of departure.

Parking at Chicago Midway International Airport

There are 164 parking spaces available on the airport premises divided into the Terminal Garage adjacent to the terminal, the Economy Garage, the Economy Lot and the Daily Lot. Free shuttle buses run between the latter three and the terminal.

Parking fees are calculated on actual time parked either hourly or daily depending on which parking area the vehicle is parked in. Parking is only allowed for up to 30 consecutive days after which the vehicle will be towed at the owner’s expense unless they have notified it before the 30 days have passed.

Two Electric Vehicle charging stations are located in the Economy Garage and one in the Cell Phone Lot.

There are Disabled Accessible Parking spaces available in all the different parking areas.

Passengers can be dropped off or picked up on curbside, but vehicles may not be left unattended. For greeters waiting for a traveler to be ready for pick up the Cell Phone Lot is located a few minutes’ drive from the airport’s main entrance. Find out more about parking at Chicago Midway Airport.

Hotels near Chicago Midway International Airport

There are a number of hotels to suit all budgets and requirements at or near Chicago Midway International Airport.

WiFi at Chicago Midway International Airport

The airport offers free and unlimited WiFi internet access throughout the airport. Once the WiFi function on your is turned on select either “Boingo Hotspot” or “ _Free_MDW_Wi-Fi” in the list of available networks. After your browser is launched you will have to watch an ad to get access. Sometimes a non-https URL needs to be loaded for the WiFi page to load.

If you have any difficulties accessing the network following these instructions, please reach out to Boingo Wireless Customer care at +1 800 880-4117.

Charging Stations at Chicago Midway International Airport

There are charging outlets and power outlets located throughout the airport at workstations and chairs and tables with the outlets built-in.

ATMs at Chicago Midway International Airport

There are multiple ATMs once past the TSA security control, spread out in the Concourses.

Food and Beverage at Chicago Midway International Airport

There are no eateries pre-security, but once security has been cleared there is a wide variation of places to eat and drink. Some places offer vegan, vegetarian or gluten free options.

Shopping at Chicago Midway International Airport

There are no duty free shops at Midway Airport, but once through security there is a variety of shops.

Chapel at Chicago Midway International Airport

The airport’s chapel is a place for tranquility and peace and it is located on the Mezzanine Level in Concourse C, above the food court.

Children’s Play Area at Chicago Midway International Airport

There are no play areas for children at the airport so it is important that passengers travelling with children keep them amused and occupied so they don’t disturb other travelers.

Smoking at Chicago Midway International Airport

Smoking is only allowed in the designated smoking areas located outside the terminal, however, it is strictly forbidden to smoke marijuana on the airport’s grounds.

Mother’s Room at Chicago Midway International Airport

A room offering a tranquil place, specifically created for nursing mothers and that prefers to do so in a private setting. It is located in Concourse C.

Restrooms at Chicago Midway International Airport

All the restrooms at the airport have wheelchair accessible facilities and there are also six All Gender Restrooms located in Concourses A and B as well as in the Baggage Claim area.

Service Animal Relief Areas at Chicago Midway International Airport

There is one outdoor SARA (Service Animal Relief Area) at the airport located on the south end of the Lower Level terminal drive, exit through Door 4 on Lower Level, turn right and past the bus stop. The area is fenced in, has a bench and waste bags are provided.

There is one indoor SARA for traveling service animals or pets. It is located in Concourse A, is enclosed with a glass pane door that opens and closes automatically and it is wheelchair accessible.

Things to do in Chicago

There are a number of activities to suit all ages and interests in the region - see a selection of tourist activities in Chicago, Illinois in the United States of America.

Chicago Midway Airport Contacts:

Address: Chicago Midway International Airport, 5700 S Cicero Ave, Chicago, IL 60638, USA
General phone: +1 773 838-0600
General email: aviation@flychicago.com
Lost and found Email: aviation@flychicago.com
Lost and found phone: +1 773 838-0656
Official website: https://www.flychicago.com/midway/home/pages/default.aspx

Local Information

Drive on: Right
Electricity: 120V/60Hz
Plug: A, B
Currency: US Dollar, USD, $