Chicago O'hare International (KORD), Illinois
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
Chicago O'Hare International (KORD) is a Class 1 tier hub airport located in Chicago, Illinois, roughly 7.6 nautical miles from the metro area it serves. The field recorded 852,578 total operations in 2025 per FAA TFMSC data, with business aviation accounting for 10,603 of those movements. Eight paved runways, the longest at 13,000 feet, along with round-the-clock tower operation and onsite CBP inspection services with a USDA compliance agreement, support a dense mix of air carrier, cargo, and business aviation traffic.
Runways
Chicago O'hare International has eight paved runways. The longest, 10L/28R, is 13,000 ft long and 150 ft wide, with an asphalt and concrete surface.
Runway geometry from published threshold coordinates. Not for navigation.
Runways are listed longest first. Helipads and surfaces under 500 ft are excluded.
Source: FAA Form 5010.
Fuel and airfield services
Chicago O'hare International has Jet A and 100LL available on the field. Fueling is available 24 hours a day, every day, and the airport has an operating control tower.
Source: FAA Form 5010 / NASR.
Customs
Chicago O'hare International has US Customs and Border Protection clearance available onsite, with general clearance for international arrivals. A USDA compliance agreement is in place.
Source: CBP list of ports of entry.
Business aviation traffic
Chicago O'hare International recorded 10,603 business aviation movements in 2025. Traffic peaks in June. Business aviation traffic at KORD concentrates in the late spring and summer months, peaking in June, with a pronounced drop in November.
Business jet movements, FAA TFMSC count. Peak month June, 1,184 movements in 2025.
Source: FAA TFMSC, business jet movements, 2025.
Climate
Chicago O'hare International averages 6.5 days above 90°F in July, 28.1 freeze days in January and 3.6 snow days in January. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 84.5°F, and January the coldest, at 31.6°F.
Weather station is on the field. Some values are estimated by the agency. 1991–2020 climate normals.
Source: NOAA NCEI.
Operating constraints
Chicago O'hare International has published operating constraints in eight categories: access, weight restrictions, runway notes, emergency arresting systems, noise procedures, environmental, pavement strength and other notes.
Approach and departure paths are east and west.
Closed to arrivals.
Closed to departures.
Aircraft with a wingspan greater than 214 feet require prior permission with 48 hours notice.
Magnetic deviation is possible immediately west of taxiway Y and on the runway 22L approach on taxiway N.
Taxiway A17 is closed to aircraft with a wingspan greater than 96 feet.
Taxiway TXL SP is closed to aircraft with a wingspan greater than 167 feet.
Taxiway TXL SE is closed to aircraft with a wingspan greater than 118 feet.
Taxiway A6 is closed to aircraft with a wingspan greater than 167 feet.
Triple dual tandem (3D) gear configuration limit is 768,000 pounds; dual tandem with dual wheel (2D/D1) gear configuration limit is 632,755 pounds.
Runway 10X supports the second straight-in ILS system I-IZJ on runway 10R.
Line up and wait authorization is in effect between sunset and sunrise at the following intersections: runway 28R at taxiway GG, taxiway EE, and taxiway N5; runway 10L at taxiway DD, taxiway CC, and taxiway SS; runway 27C at taxiway TT; runway 9C at taxiway FF; runway 27L at taxiway TT; runway 9R at taxiway SS and FF. These runways will be used for departures only when this authorization is exercised.
The air traffic control tower is authorized to conduct simultaneous departures from runway 04L/04R, runway 22L/22R, runway 09R with runway 09L or runway 10L, runway 09C with runway 09L or runway 10L, runway 10C with runway 09R or runway 09C, runway 27L with runway 27R or runway 28R, runway 27C with runway 27R or runway 28R, and runway 28C with runway 27L or runway 27C, with course divergence beginning no later than 4 miles from the runway end.
Be alert: taxiway S1 is inbound or eastbound only, taxiway S2 is inbound or westbound only, taxiways P1, P2, P3, P5, and P6 are northbound only, and taxiways E1, E2, E3, and E4 are southbound only. Taxiway E3 is westbound only from runway 09C/27C.
A380-800 operational constraints exist on certain runways, taxiways, and ramps; contact airport operations for information.
B747-8 operations are not authorized on runways 09R/27L, 09L/27R, and 10R/28L.
Runway status lights are in operation.
An Engineered Materials Arresting System (EMAS), 170 feet wide by 546 feet long, is located at the departure end of runway 04R.
An Engineered Materials Arresting System (EMAS), 170 feet wide by 303 feet long, is located at the departure end of runway 22L.
Noise abatement procedures are in effect from 2200 to 0700; contact the airport manager.
Birds are present on and in the vicinity of the airport; pyrotechnics and bird cannons are in use.
PCR VALUE: 1180/R/C/W/T
PCR VALUE: 1180/R/C/W/U
PCR VALUE: 800/R/C/W/U
PCR VALUE: 800/R/C/W/T
The PAPI is unusable beyond 8 degrees right and 9 degrees left of centerline.
See the Land and Hold Short Operations section.
Alert: duplicate alpha-numeric taxiway designators and terminal gate designations exist involving the letters B, C, G, H, K, L, and M.
Personnel and equipment working near various taxiways.
Periodic fire department training occurs at the north sector of the airport.
The primary run-up location is the ground run-up enclosure; secondary run-up locations are available upon request by contacting city operations.
All Part 91 and unscheduled Part 125, 133, and 135 charter operators should contact the fixed base operator regarding new security regulations prior to departure.
The east and west gates are staffed 24 hours a day.
Diverting aircraft without a company presence at O'Hare should contact airport operations prior to diverting to the extent practical and provide company, flight operations contact information, aircraft type, persons onboard, whether the flight is international or domestic, and any ground handler agreements in place.
Be alert: the northeast/southwest portion of taxiway YY is not visible from the tower.
Aircraft are not permitted to stop on either the taxiway A or taxiway B bridges.
Taxiway NN1 is inbound/eastbound only; taxiway NN2 is outbound/westbound only.
Source: FAA Chart Supplement.
Nearby airfields
Chicago O'hare International has five airfields within 16 NM. The closest is Chicago Executive (KPWK), 8.29 NM north.
Part of the Chicago area.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at KORD
We arrange catering, fuel and trip support here. Supplier prices reach you unchanged; our coordination fee sits on its own line.
The same order, priced two ways.
$2,400.00 catering order at KORD.
Unchanged.
What the kitchen invoices us is what your quote reads.
One line, fixed.
It does not move with the size of the order.
At cost.
Passed on at the exact amount the processor took.
Market practice figures are industry averages, not a specific competitor.
Frequently asked questions
What is the longest runway at KORD?
Chicago O'Hare International's longest runway is 10L/28R at 13,000 feet, paved in asphalt-concrete with a width of 150 feet. The airfield operates eight paved runways in total, ranging down to the 7,500-foot pair of 04L/22R and 09L/27R and 10R/28L. Two additional runways, 09C/27C and 10C/28C, exceed 10,800 feet each. This depth of parallel and crossing runway capacity supports the high-volume mixed operation seen at KORD, including simultaneous departure procedures authorized between multiple runway pairs by the tower.
Are there any wingspan restrictions on taxiways at KORD?
Yes, Chicago O'Hare International restricts several taxiways by aircraft wingspan. Taxiway A17 is closed to aircraft with a wingspan greater than 96 feet. Taxiway A6 and taxiway TXL SP are closed to aircraft wider than 167 feet, while taxiway TXL SE is closed above 118 feet. Aircraft with a wingspan greater than 214 feet also require prior permission with a 48-hour notice. Operators of larger jets should confirm compatible routing before filing to KORD.
Does KORD have customs and inspection services for international arrivals?
Chicago O'Hare International has customs available onsite, with CBP inspection services and a USDA compliance agreement in place. This supports international arrivals without requiring a diversion to another port of entry. Operators diverting to KORD without a company presence at the field are asked to contact airport operations in advance where practical, providing company details, aircraft type, number of persons onboard, and whether the flight is international or domestic. This coordination applies specifically to diversion scenarios rather than routine scheduled arrivals.
What are the pavement classification values for runways at KORD?
Chicago O'Hare International publishes multiple PCR values across its runway system, reflecting the mix of pavement strength ratings for different surfaces. Values recorded include 1180/R / C/W / T, 1180/R / C/W / U, 800/R / C/W / U, and 800/R / C/W / T. Separate published gear limits list 768,000 pounds for triple dual tandem configurations and 632,755 pounds for dual tandem with dual wheel configurations. Dispatchers planning heavy widebody operations should match aircraft gear configuration against the specific runway's published PCR value rather than assuming a single airport-wide rating.
Is business aviation traffic at KORD concentrated in certain months?
Yes, business aviation traffic at Chicago O'Hare International (KORD) shows clear seasonal concentration according to FAA TFMSC data. Monthly bizav operations peak in June at 1,184 and stay elevated from May through July, all above 1,080 operations. Traffic drops sharply in November to 419 operations, the lowest month of the year, before partially recovering in December to 536. This pattern gives KORD a summer-weighted bizav profile against a total annual bizav count of 10,603 operations in 2025.