Midway International Airport (MDW) by the Numbers: Passenger Stats, Runways & Terminal Insights

Midway International Airport (MDW) is the second-largest airport in Chicago, Illinois, after O'Hare International Airport (ORD). MDW is situated on the Southwest Side of the city, in the Garfield Ridge and Clearing neighborhoods, and is less hectic and crowded than O'Hare International Airport, though it is smaller and very efficient in its operation. Although it is a secondary airport, Midway is a crucial part of the air traffic in Chicago, with over 10,360,093 passengers having been served in 2024. In this blog, we will try to give you all the important details that can help you know more about MDW.

Access & Proximity

MDW excels when it comes to accessibility. The airport lies approximately 11 miles away from downtown Chicago. Below is the data according to the distance to MDW.

(Data reference from Google Maps)

Annual Passenger Traffic of the Last 5 Years

This is a look at the changing passenger volumes at MDW in the past five years:

Midway International Airport (MDW) facilities

The Chicago Midway International Airport occupies a land area of slightly more than one square mile (650 acres (260 hectares)). The airport is enclosed with development and buildings, and thus special adjustments are made to ensure safe landing and takeoff.

There are four active runways in the airport:

Due to displaced thresholds caused by surrounding development, the available landing distance on some runways is shorter than the full runway length.” As an example, although runway 13C/31C is 6,522 feet in length, the landing area on one side is approximately 6,059 feet and on the other side, approximately 5,826 feet.

The Boeing 757 is the largest aircraft that frequently operates at Midway. The larger commercial flights normally operate on runway 13C/31C and 4R/22L only; the smaller runways are operated on by private or smaller aircraft. There are also runways that are limited to large aircraft unless there is an emergency.

13L/31R, one of the oldest runways, was permanently closed on August 9, 2023, after serving the airport for 82 years (this was part of FAA runway safety upgrades at MDW). It is now turned into Taxiway H.

Terminal and Gates

There is only one main terminal building in Midway Airport that is subdivided into three concourses where the passengers board and deplane. If you are catching your next flight in Chicago and coming to MDW airport, remember the Concourse and gates where you have to be. The total number of 43 aircraft gates is at MDW airport.

The gates are separated in the following way

There are many services in the terminal, such as ticket counters, security checkpoints, shops, restaurants, waiting areas, and baggage claim sections. The check-in area of Southwest Airlines is one of the busiest since Southwest is the biggest airline at MDW.

What Makes MDW Stand Out?

• Convenience: More downtown and most south/southwest neighborhoods are nearer than O'Hare.

• Southwest Hub: Excellent when it comes to domestic / short-haul travelers.

• Effective Traffic: Wait/taxi times are usually shorter compared to O'Hare.

• High Growth: Among the US airports that are recovering the fastest after the pandemic.

Final Thoughts

Midway International Airport is increasingly becoming a popular hub of domestic and short-haul international travel. Its convenient position, quick rebound in the number of passengers, and regular investment in the experience of travelers have turned it not only into the second airport of Chicago, but also into a smart option for millions of people. When it comes to business travel, family visits, or just sightseeing in the U.S., MDW is a traveler-friendly airport that is efficient and reliable, and it is difficult to find a better alternative.

(Data Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midway_International_Airport)