Travel Information for O'Hare and Midway Airports Regarding Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Updated June 25, 2020

As of May 1st, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker issued a statewide order for people over the age of two to wear a face covering in public when social distancing is not an option. Chicago airports require passengers and staff to wear a face covering at O'Hare and Midway Intl. Airports. For more information on the guidance of using a face covering, click here.

The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) has no higher priority than the safety and security of the traveling public and our airport community, and we are taking every precaution to keep travelers and employees safe. We are in close contact with our federal and public health partners at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH), and strictly adhere to their recommendations. We are determined to maintaining normal airport operations, while at the same time supporting CDPH's mandate to reduce the impact of COVID-19 in Chicago.

For the latest information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
For the latest information from the City of Chicago Department of Public Health

Chicago Department of Aviation Actions

Since January, the CDA has been working closely and collaboratively with our federal and public health partners at the CDC and CDPH, as well as Customs and Border Protection (CBP), to implement the federally mandated screening of travelers who may have been exposed to COVID-19. We are also committed to working with these agencies to ensure we are following best practices to keep the traveling public and airport employees safe. Specific actions we have taken in our airports include:

Increased frequency of surface cleaning in high-traffic areas, utilizing virus and bacteria killing disinfectants.
The installation of more than 120 additional hand sanitizing stations, along with a regimented refill schedule.
Utilizing airport signage and social media channels to display CDC and CDPH protective action messages.
Enhancing public health preparedness by providing information on COVID-19 to passengers at airport information booths.
Fully participating in the City of Chicago's citywide COVID-19 emergency management response activation.
Convening regular airport community and stakeholder calls to disseminate the most up-to-date information and foster coordination.
Limiting passengers on airport shuttle buses to 15 or less.
If you parked at O'Hare or Midway and are unable to leave your current location because of COVID19 restrictions, please contact our parking operator to discuss your travel situation. Standard Parking: (773) 686-7530 / 24/7 assistance.
Updated TSA checkpoint hours and operation can be found here.

Update on Airport Concessions

Airport concessions are exempt from the State of Illinois's emergency order of closing restaurants and bars. A variety of restaurants, bars, and other concessionaires and shops are open for business at O'Hare and Midway to serve travelers.

Some concessionaires have temporarily closed or are operating under limited hours at their discretion.

For a list of open shops, please visit the following pages: O'Hare / Midway

Airport concessions are exempt from the State of Illinois's emergency order closing restaurants and bars.
We are working with our concessionaires to encourage social distancing throughout our airports by removing some tables and seats, added distancing floor decals near registers, installed spit guards at registers, and posted additional distancing signage to increase spacing and reduce density crowding.
Contactless payment options via apps have been activated where possible for restaurants and retailers. Partners continue to work on implanting touchless payment options with smaller brands and companies.
Potential to designate single entrance and exist in multiple entrance or larger concessions to control flow of passengers.
Additionally, the following measures have been strongly encouraged for all airport restaurants, in accordance with CDPH and BACP guidance:

Removal of shared condiments or utensil items from common areas.
All publicly accessible soda fountains or water spigots moved behind the counter, and refills into the same cup prohibited.
Product displays adjusted to require less customer contact.
Use of one-use disposable menus (or visual displays) rather than reused menus at sit-down restaurants.

City of Chicago Community

Information on the resources available and the preparedness measures taken by the City of Chicago in response to COVID-19.

Help on the Horizon for Struggling Airport Small Businesses

Federal Actions and Airport Screening

All decisions regarding the screening of international passengers arriving at U.S. airports are made and carried out by federal agencies, particularly the CDC and CBP. Since January, the CDA has provided all necessary support for our federal partners to carry out the screening protocols of the moment. The City of Chicago and its airport employees do not (and are not authorized to) conduct screenings of arriving international passengers.

This a fluid and frequently changing situation. For the most up-to date information on screening procedures for international arriving passengers, please visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/after-travel-precautions.html.

What you can do

Public health experts recommend practicing good hygiene and taking proactive preventive measures to avoid contracting or spreading COVID-19. These include:

Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing, or having been in a public place.
If soap and water are not available, using a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
Avoid touching your face, nose, eyes, mouth, etc, especially with unwashed hands.
To the extent possible, avoid touching high-touch surfaces in public places.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue immediately in a trash receptacle.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick, and stay at home when you are sick.

Travelers should refer to the CDC regarding the advisability of travel. Older people and people with severe chronic conditions should take special precautions because they are at higher risk of developing serious COVID-19 illness, and should limit nonessential travel.

Resources

Information related to the COVID-19 outbreak is updated frequently; check the following resources for the most up-to-date information: