MORE THAN ONE MILLION PASSENGERS EXPECTED TO PASS THROUGH CHICAGO'S AIRPORTS DURING THE MEMORIAL HOLIDAY TRAVEL PERIOD
New Food Court at O'Hare Open for Traveler's Convenience
CHICAGO -- May 23, 2001 -- More than 1.4 million passengers are expected to travel through the Chicago Airport System during the Memorial Day travel period beginning Thursday, May 24th through Tuesday, May 29th.
A daily average of more than 205,000 travelers will pass through O'Hare International Airport, while a daily average of over 42,000 travelers will pass through Midway Airport during the six day period.
"We are working hard to ensure that travelers have a pleasant experience while using our airports," said Aviation Commissioner Thomas R. Walker. "The Memorial Day holiday marks the start of the summer travel season and one of the busiest holiday travel periods."
For the first time, O'Hare opens a new food court at the H and K Concourse of Terminal 3. Travelers will be able to enjoy a wide variety of food, beverage and retail choices at the new Flight Deck. New restaurants include Burrito Beach/B smooth, McDonald's, O'Brien's, Reggio's Pizza, Panda Express, Dunkin' Donuts, Starbucks and Prairie Tap.
On Thursday, May 24th and Friday, May 25th, travelers at O'Hare and Midway airports will be treated to live entertainment between the hours of 3-7:00p.m. Thursday's entertainment will feature local senior citizens participating in the Encore Program, a City of Chicago
Department of Aging Seniors initiative. Everything from traditional jazz, classical, dixieland and folk will be featured throughout the terminals of Midway and O'Hare.
Travelers should allow extra time in their travel plans to account for longer lines at ticket counters and airport roadway construction. Construction work on the departure level roadway at O'Hare will continue during the nighttime hours from 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., when airport operations are minimally impacted.
Motorists at O'Hare will be allowed to drop off and pick up passengers on the lower level roadway. It is recommended that all domestic departing passengers arrive at least one and a half hours before their scheduled flight departure; international departing passengers should arrive at least two hours before their scheduled flight departure.
Convenient public transportation options are available at both O'Hare and Midway. The CTA's Blue Line to O'Hare and the Orange Line to Midway are convenient ways to get to the airports and the Loop while avoiding holiday roadway congestion. Unattended vehicles parked in front of terminal curb fronts will be ticketed and towed.
O'Hare is offering complimentary parking at the main garage for the first half hour. Midway Airport will offer a special short term rate in the enclosed parking garage of $2.00 for the first two hours from Thursday, May 24th through Wednesday, May 30th. For further parking information, travelers can call (773) 686-7530 for O'Hare, and
(773) 838-0756 for Midway.
