O’Hare was nation’s busiest airport in 2018; Sea-Tac is No. 8

The Atlanta airport slips to No, 2 in the nation, followed by LA, Dallas-Fort Worth and Denver.

  • Herald News Services
  • Tuesday, February 5, 2019 1:30am
  • Business

Herald News Services

CHICAGO — O’Hare International Airport is once again the nation’s busiest in terms of total flights, surpassing Atlanta for the first time since 2014, according to federal data.

O’Hare’s total flights last year topped 900,000 for the first time since 2007, the Federal Aviation Administration reported Monday. The busiest days for flights at O’Hare occurred during June and July, and the busiest day was June 27, with 2,847 arrivals and departures.

O’Hare also handled more than 83.4 million passengers last year, a 4.5 percent increase over 2017, according to the Chicago Department of Aviation, citing preliminary airline data. Both airports together saw more than 105 million passengers, a new record, the city said.

Los Angeles International Airport, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Denver International Airport round out the top five.

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport was the eighth-business in the nation, up from ninth place in 2017.

O’Hare saw 903,747 flights in 2018, up 4.2 percent compared with the previous year, while Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport hosted 895,502 flights, up 1.8 percent, the FAA said. Los Angeles, Dallas/Fort Worth and Denver were in third, fourth and fifth place, respectively.

O’Hare’s 2018 passenger numbers are not expected to be high enough to surpass Atlanta’s, which saw nearly 104 million passengers in 2017, according to Airports Council International, the global trade representative of the world’s airport authorities. O’Hare used to be the busiest airport in the world in terms of passengers, but Atlanta has held that title for 20 years.

In 2018, the FAA found that more flights have been arriving on time at O’Hare in recent years, moving its ranking from the bottom among large airports to the middle of the pack.

More business does not necessarily mean happier travelers. The airport still ranks low in terms of passenger satisfaction, according to the 2018 North American Airport Satisfaction Survey by J.D. Power, a marketing information services firm.

The city is planning an $8.5 billion expansion of O’Hare.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Business

Image from Erickson Furniture website
From couch to coffee table — Local favorites await

Style your space with the county’s top picks for furniture and flair.

Nichole Webber: Drawing up plays for athletes and politics

The communications director for the city of Everett believes leadership is rooted in honesty, integrity and selfless commitment to others.

2025 Emerging Leader DeLon Lewis (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
DeLon Lewis: Helping students succeed

Program specialist for Everett Community College believes leadership is about building bridges.

2025 Emerging Leader Natalie Given (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Natalie Given: Building trust and communicating concerns

Everett Police Department’s Public Information Officer builds relationship and better communication.

2025 Emerging Leader Scott Hulme (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Scott Hulme: Standing up for downtown

Business development manager for the Downtown Everett Association brings property owners, tenants and city leaders together.

2025 Emerging Leader Anthony Hawley (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Anthony Hawley: Creating friendships and filling pantries

Since 2021, Hawley has increased donations to Lake Stevens Community Food Bank through fundraising and building donor relationships.

2025 Emerging Leader Rick Flores (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Rick Flores: Learning lessons from marching band

Directs the Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement program at WSU Everett helps underrepresented students with tutoring, specialized courses, mentorship and support networks.

2025 Emerging Leader Melinda Cervantes (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Melinda Cervantes: Making sure every voice is heard

Prolific volunteer facilitates connections between Spanish-speaking public representatives and community members.

2025 Emerging Leader Megan Kemmett (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Megan Kemmett: Seeking solutions to any problem or obstacle

Executive director of Snohomish Community Food Bank overcomes obstacles to keep people fed.

2025 Emerging Leader Kellie Lewis (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Kellie Lewis: Bringing community helpers together

Edmonds Food Bank’s marketing and communications director fosters connections to help others.

2025 Emerging Leader Christina Strand (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Christina Strand: Helping people on the move

Community engagement specialist believes biking, walking and public transit can have a positive impact.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.