Chicago Midway (KMDW)

Chicago Midway International Airport (IATA: MDW, ICAO: KMDW, FAA LID: MDW) is located on the southwest side of Chicago, roughly 8 miles (13 km) from downtown. Originally established in 1927 as Chicago Municipal Airport, it was renamed Midway in 1949 to honor the Battle of Midway during World War II. Midway was once the busiest airport in the world before the opening of O'Hare International Airport in the 1950s. Today, Midway serves as a vital hub for domestic air travel, especially for low-cost carriers. In 2019, the airport handled over 22 million passengers, making it the second-largest airport in the Chicago metropolitan area and the state of Illinois.

Midway is a major base for Southwest Airlines, which carries over 95% of the airport’s passengers, making Chicago its largest focus city. The airport has five runways, but due to its landlocked position within the city, it lacks space for expansion. Despite these constraints, the airport operates with high efficiency and serves over 70 nonstop destinations across the United States, Mexico, and the Caribbean. The airport's layout consists of a single passenger terminal with three concourses (A, B, and C), featuring a variety of dining and shopping options for travelers.