The City of Chicago operates O'Hare and Midway International Airports through the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) as a separate and distinct enterprise for financial purposes. The operating budget for both airports is separate from the City of Chicago budget and is funded through a variety of funding sources described below. City of Chicago taxes do not fund the airport.
For a complete understanding of O'Hare and Midway financials, check out the Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports available on the City of Chicago Department of Finance's website.
Funding/Revenue Sources
The operating budget for the Chicago Department of Aviation is derived from a number of sources including passenger facility charges, non-airline funding sources and airline rates and charges.
Airline Rates and Charges
Airlines support the operating budget of the airports through landing fees and rental payments. Information on historical rates and charges at O'Hare and Midway are available below.