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Home › Airports › Chicago

Private Jet Airports in Chicago

53 airfieldsUnited States

Overview

53 airfields serve Chicago. Chicago Midway International (KMDW) handles the most business aviation traffic, with 25% of the area's business jet movements , followed by Chicago Executive and Dupage . The area spans the Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan borders around Lake Michigan's southern shore, stretching from downtown Chicago fields out to Peoria, the Quad Cities, and South Bend. Fields near the lake sit under 700 ft, while the highest, De Kalb Taylor Municipal, reaches 913 ft, a modest range with little seasonal performance impact. Nine of the area's airports offer customs service, spread from Chicago Midway International inside the city to Quad Cities International over 120 NM out, giving operators several entry points depending on where the trip originates.

Skystar coordinates catering, fuel and trip support across the area. See rates ↓

Comparison

Ten of the 53 airfields serving Chicago handle 83% of the area's business jet movements. Distance is measured from the area center, and runway length is the longest paved surface on the field.

# Airfield Distance Longest runway Services Business jet movements
1 Chicago Midway International KMDW 6 NM 6,522 ft CUS · JET A · TWR 43,969 25% of area movements
2 Chicago Executive Airport KPWK 15 NM 5,001 ft CUS · JET A · TWR 37,539 21% of area movements
3 Dupage Airport KDPA 20 NM 7,571 ft CUS · JET A · TWR 15,784 9% of area movements
4 Chicago O'hare International KORD 8 NM 13,000 ft CUS · JET A · TWR 10,603 6% of area movements
5 Gary / Chicago International KGYY 23 NM 8,859 ft CUS · JET A · TWR 9,502 5% of area movements
6 South Bend International KSBN 67 NM 8,412 ft CUS · JET A · TWR 8,928 5% of area movements
7 Waukegan National Airport KUGN 33 NM 6,001 ft CUS · JET A · TWR 6,538 4% of area movements
8 Aurora Municipal KARR 31 NM 6,501 ft JET A · TWR 4,382 2% of area movements
9 General Downing - Peoria International KPIA 112 NM 10,104 ft CUS · JET A · TWR 4,328 2% of area movements
10 Quad Cities International KMLI 124 NM 10,002 ft CUS · JET A · TWR 4,285 2% of area movements

Headline figures cover public airports only. Military and private fields stay in the list below but are excluded from the counts.

Source: FAA Form 5010 and CBP list of ports of entry.

All airfields

All 53 airfields serving Chicago, grouped by distance from the area center. Each tier carries its own scale in nautical miles, and every mark is one airfield.

Within 40 NM (16) 1442239323135292427258738 0 20 40 NM
1 Chicago Midway International KMDW 6 NM 6,522 ft
4 Chicago O'hare International KORD 8 NM 13,000 ft
42 Brookeridge Air Park Airport LL22 13 NM 2,813 ft
2 Chicago Executive Airport KPWK 15 NM 5,001 ft
39 Schaumburg Regional 06C 15 NM 3,800 ft
32 Bolingbrook's Clow International 1C5 18 NM 3,360 ft
3 Dupage Airport KDPA 20 NM 7,571 ft
13 Lewis University Airport KLOT 21 NM 6,500 ft
5 Gary / Chicago International KGYY 23 NM 8,859 ft
29 Lansing Municipal KIGQ 24 NM 4,002 ft
24 Griffith-Merrillville Airport 05C 28 NM 4,899 ft
27 Lake in the Hills Airport 3CK 30 NM 3,800 ft
25 Bult Field C56 31 NM 5,001 ft
8 Aurora Municipal KARR 31 NM 6,501 ft
7 Waukegan National Airport KUGN 33 NM 6,001 ft
40 to 100 NM (28) 2315332022523640261748645194744513730531135501418461243 40 70 100 NM
23 De Kalb Taylor Municipal KDKB 41 NM 7,026 ft
15 Porter County Regional KVPZ 44 NM 7,001 ft
20 Greater Kankakee Airport KIKK 49 NM 5,981 ft
22 La Porte Municipal KPPO 51 NM 5,000 ft
52 Skydive Chicago Airport 8N2 53 NM 4,522 ft
36 Rochelle Municipal / Koritz Field KRPJ 57 NM 5,001 ft
40 Starke County Airport KOXI 61 NM 5,002 ft
26 Jasper County Airport KRZL 62 NM 4,000 ft
17 Southwest Michigan Regional KBEH 63 NM 6,006 ft
48 Andrews University Airpark C20 64 NM 4,148 ft
6 South Bend International KSBN 67 NM 8,412 ft
45 Pontiac Municipal KPNT 68 NM 5,000 ft
47 Kentland Municipal 50I 69 NM 4,004 ft
44 Jerry Tyler Memorial Airport 3TR 70 NM 4,100 ft
51 Arens Field KRWN 71 NM 4,201 ft
37 Plymouth Municipal C65 74 NM 4,400 ft
30 South Haven Area Regional KLWA 74 NM 4,800 ft
53 Dowagiac Municipal C91 75 NM 4,700 ft
11 Elkhart Municipal KEKM 81 NM 6,500 ft
50 Marshall County Airport C75 88 NM 4,003 ft
14 West Michigan Regional KBIV 91 NM 6,002 ft
18 Goshen Municipal KGSH 92 NM 6,008 ft
46 Padgham Field 35D 96 NM 4,300 ft
43 Three Rivers Municipal / Dr Haines KHAI 99 NM 4,000 ft
Beyond 100 NM (9) 34284941931101621 100 116 131 NM
34 Ottawa Executive Airport Z98 100 NM 3,800 ft
28 Mount Hawley Auxiliary Airport 3MY 105 NM 4,001 ft
49 Kewanee Municipal KEZI 105 NM 4,500 ft
9 General Downing - Peoria International KPIA 112 NM 10,104 ft
31 Clinton Municipal KCWI 113 NM 5,204 ft
10 Quad Cities International KMLI 124 NM 10,002 ft
16 Davenport Municipal KDVN 126 NM 5,511 ft
21 Harrel W Timmons Galesburg Regional KGBG 131 NM 5,792 ft

Distance is measured from the area center, not from another airfield.

Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.

Seasonality

Business jet traffic across Chicago peaks in October and is lowest in February. Seven months run above the yearly average.

17,780 movements in October11,050 in February7 months above the yearly average25% of area traffic at Chicago Midway International
Average 14,731
11,050
17,780
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Chicago Midway International All other airfields

Source: FAA TFMSC, 176,767 business jet movements across the area, 2025.

Data last refreshed September 2026. See our methodology →

Skystar in Chicago

We arrange catering, fuel and trip support across the area. Supplier prices reach you unchanged; our coordination fee sits on its own line.

Catering
8%
Minimum $75
Trip support
6%
No minimum
Fuel
$0.10 / gal
Minimum $75 per uplift, under 750 gallons
Card processing
5%
* Supported byStripe

The same trip, priced two ways.

Citation Longitude, four passengers, one night in Chicago.

Market practice
Landing permit$675.00
Airport slot$270.00
Ground handling$1,860.00
Crew transport$480.00
Crew hotel, 2 rooms$915.00
Coordination feeNot shown
Card processing$210.00
Total due, USD$4,410.00
Skystar
Landing permit$450.00
Airport slot$180.00
Ground handling$1,240.00
Crew transport$320.00
Crew hotel, 2 rooms$610.00
Coordination fee$168.00
Card processing$148.40
Total due, USD$3,116.40

At cost.

What the supplier invoices us is what your quote reads.

One line, fixed.

It does not move with the size of the trip.

At cost.

Passed on at the exact amount the processor took.

Market practice figures are industry averages, not a specific competitor.

Get a quote Full rate card →

Frequently asked questions

How far apart are Chicago Midway International and Chicago O'Hare International?

Chicago Midway International (KMDW) and Chicago O'Hare International (KORD) sit 13 NM apart, both inside the city with customs onsite and tower service. For an operator choosing between the two, the short separation means ground transportation timing to downtown Chicago differs little between them. The practical distinction is runway length: O'Hare's longest surface reaches 13,000 ft against Midway's 6,522 ft, a factor that matters more for heavy long-range jets than for typical business aircraft. Both fields report CBP inspection services and USDA compliance agreements, so the customs decision between these two does not turn on capability but on ramp access and slot handling at each field.

Which airport in the Chicago area has the longest runway, and how does that compare to Chicago Executive?

Chicago O'Hare International (KORD) holds the longest runway in the Chicago area at 13,000 ft. Chicago Executive (KPWK), 8 NM away, has a maximum paved length of 5,001 ft. That gap matters for operators flying aircraft with higher runway length requirements, particularly at higher weights or in warm-weather conditions, since O'Hare accommodates them while Chicago Executive is sized for typical business jet traffic rather than the largest widebody types. Both fields report customs service onsite, so the runway figure, not customs availability, is the differentiator when matching an aircraft to a specific field this close to downtown Chicago.

How does business jet traffic in the Chicago area vary across the year?

Business jet movements in the Chicago area totaled 176,767 in 2025, with October as the peak month at 17,780 operations and February as the low month at 11,050. That is roughly a 60% swing between the busiest and quietest months. Seven months of the year run above the 14,731 average, meaning traffic is concentrated in spring through fall rather than spread evenly. Operators planning ramp space or fuel uplift across the Chicago area should treat winter months, particularly February, as the lighter planning case and the September-October stretch as the year's heaviest demand period.

How many airports in the Chicago area have customs service, and what does that mean for routing?

Nine airports in the Chicago area offer CBP inspection services among the 51 public-use fields. That is a relatively high concentration for a single metropolitan area, spanning fields close to the city such as Chicago Midway International (KMDW) and Chicago Executive (KPWK) as well as ones farther out like South Bend International (KSBN) and Quad Cities International (KMLI). For an international arrival, this spread means the customs decision does not have to force a long repositioning leg away from the intended ramp, since multiple customs-capable fields exist at different distances from central Chicago.

What altitude range should operators expect across airports in the Chicago area?

Elevations across the Chicago area range up to 913 ft at De Kalb Taylor Municipal, the highest point among the area's airfields. Most of the fields near the city core sit lower: Chicago Midway International (KMDW) is at 620 ft and Chicago O'Hare International (KORD) at 680 ft. The spread is modest compared to mountain regions, so density altitude is not a major seasonal factor here, but the difference is still worth noting when comparing performance figures between a lakeside field and one farther inland at higher elevation.