New city claims the title of busiest U.S. airport

WASHINGTON — Atlanta no longer houses the busiest airport in the U.S., according to new data from the Federal Aviation Administration. 

Over the last year, more than 857,392 aircraft landed or took off from Chicago’s O’Hare airport, more than any other airport in the U.S, according to preliminary operation data from the FAA. The final numbers, with global rankings and full passenger figures for 2025, are still pending.

O’Hare last held the title of America’s busiest airport in 2019. Atlanta’s airport, where Delta Air Lines has its main hub, has previously held the crown.

“This is more than a statistic, it’s a statement about Chicago’s momentum,” Chicago’s Mayor Brandon Johnson said in a statement Tuesday. “From the runways of O’Hare to the neighborhoods across our city, Chicago is building, growing, and leading. We are open for business, open to the world, and once again setting the pace for the nation.” 

The milestone comes as Chicago plans for a new Concourse D, scheduled for completion in late 2028. The $1.3 billion project will feature 19 gates and will help improve passenger capacity. O’Hare is a major hub for American Airlines and United Airlines.

For comparison, Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport recorded 807,625 aircraft operations in 2025. 

Preliminary global data expected in early spring is likely to reaffirm O’Hare’s claim to busiest airport. Later this summer, official rankings from the Airports Council International, the global authority on airport data, will be released.

The other top five airports in terms of flight operations were Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, Denver International Airport in Colorado, and Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas.