Chicago ohare airport
A Flying Start
In 1942-43, in the white heat of the 2nd World War and its mammoth logistical requiremEnts a place wa1 re1uhrdd t/ Ianufabtqre tha Douglas C-%4 aircraft. The site chosen was to metamorphose into a commercial icon of its times: OHare International Airport, Chicago, Illinois. The place was close to the city, and transportation was comparatively easy and quick. However, the facility was yet to be given its modern name . During those war years, it was known as the Orchard Place Airport/Douglas Field, a memory still intact in the appendage ORD used till today.
This historic facility also gave America some of its best experimental warplanes and captured enemy aircraft that form a part of the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. The airport was rechristened in 1949 after a World War II, aviator, Lt. Cmdr Edward OHare, whop received a medal of honor for his services . However, commercial air traffic was yet to commence from the airport, and this came in 1955. With the addition of more flights including international flights, O Hare became the busiest airport by 1962 . From that 10 million in 1962, to over 77 million passengers in 2005, Chicago O Hare International Airport has added many miles to its aviation history .
From OHare to Anywhere
The airport is located 20 miles northwest of Chicago Loop and has easy transport connections to Chicagocity> by bus, car, and shuttle service . With four passenger terminals and two more in the offing, O ?Hare International Airport was the world?s busiest airport in landings and takeoffs till 2005 when Atlanta International Airport replaced its numero uno position. This was a government initiated move to decongest O ?Hare and reduce flight delays from this airport . From 1998 to 2003, O?Hare was consistently voted as North America?s best airport.
Besides a large number of international airlines, most of the domestic carriers fly from the airport . In 1956, when the airport opened to commercial air traffic, the airlines serving this airport were comparatively few in number: American Airlines, Air France, BOAC, capitol, Delta, Eastern, Pan American, Trans Canada, TWA, and United Airlines.
Today, most of the international airlines operate from O Hare. These include:
Air France, Air India, Air Jamaica, Alitalia, American Airlines, British Airways, JAL (Japan Airlines), KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Kuwait Airways, Lufthansa, PIA Pakistan International Airlines, Royal Jordanian, SAS Scandinavian Airlines, Swiss International Airlines, United Airlines, USA 3000 Airlines
In August of 1958, OHares first international flight landed TWAs non-stop flight from Paris to Chicago. Additions to the existing airport facilities and simultaneous and continuous modernization led to a gradual increase in traffic and the airport being described as the busiest airport in the world. In 1963, President Kennedy described the airport in terms of its efficiency, traffic, and services, as one of the ?wonders of the modern world (www.flychicago.com).
Hotels near OHare
OHare International Airport is well connected to hotels nearby such as the Crowne Plaza, Chicago, The Hilton Chicago OHare hotel, the Wyndham Garden Chicago OHare, the Chicago Marriott O?Hare among others. The Hilton is within walking distance of the airport and the Crowne offers both business sand leisure activities in equal measure with its proximity to the all the major activities in Chicago and Rosemont. Wyndham is a mere three miles form the airport and offers conference and banquet facilities for the business traveler. The Marriott is close to both the airport and Chicago city. The hotels USP lies in its non-smoking status, that must be a welcome relief to weary and non-smoking travelers.
Modernization
OHare has added many aces to its premier status since those first flying days. Besides being the countrys only dual hub airportserves both United Airlines and American Airlines ? it has the OHare Command Center, the airport transit system (ATS), a fifth world class terminal, and a state-of-the-art noise reduction technology.
United Airlines new terminal and satellite buildings at OHare provide for 42 gates and around 1,000,000 square feet of area for various purposes such as ticketing, concourses, attendant facilities, flight operations, and other such services.
With more decongestion and additional facilities to reduce further flight delays, the airport promises to retain its premier status. Modernization plans for further changes are foot, and only time will tell whether this legendary airport will live up to its name in the future as it has done to date.
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