The Airchive-Chicago O'Hare Planespotting

	United Airlines Terminal 1 curbside United Airlines, the busiest carrier at O’Hare and the hometown carrier, opened its futuristic terminal in 1989. United operates from a landside and midfield concourse. O'Hare is the world's second busiest airline hub and airport. United has an edge in marketshare over American. These airlines each have their own terminal while the other 2 terminals accomodate everyone else and international flights. ORD began operations in 1962 when Midway became too small for the jet age. As most know, MDW was resurgent in the 1980s with the arrival of Midway Airlines, Southwest, and ATA.
	Chicago O'Hare United Terminal United Airlines, the busiest carrier at O’Hare and the hometown carrier, opened its futuristic terminal in 1989. United operates from a landside and midfield concourse. O'Hare is the world's second busiest airline hub and airport. United has an edge in marketshare over American. These airlines each have their own terminal while the other 2 terminals accomodate everyone else and international flights. ORD began operations in 1962 when Midway became too small for the jet age. As most know, MDW was resurgent in the 1980s with the arrival of Midway Airlines, Southwest, and ATA.


	American Airlines Terminal 3 curbside
	American Terminal American operates from its own terminal adjacent to United. American is a close second to United in Chicago market share and traffic.
	Rotunda and American Airlines concourse The rotunda was originally a series of gates when ORD opened. American operates a large international hub from the airport, hence the flags.
	American Airlines gates and American Eagle concourse
	Air Canada gates and American Airlines concourse


	Airport Hilton and Control Tower
	Northwest Douglas DC-9-50 Northwest is the only mainline U.S. airline continuing to operate these mid 70s vintage twinjets. They are well maintained however, but are finally due to be replaced in 2007.
	Continental Airlines ramp
	American Airlines De-Icing Equipment Chicago's winters are notorious, and the savior of the day is often the de-icing equipment at ORD. In mid-April, the gear rests after a typically long winter waiting for the next snowstorm hopefully 6 months away.
	American Eagle Ramp Eagle operates an all RJ operation of ORD. The ATRs were moved South to MIA and DFW after a highly publicized 1994 crash in Indiana which raised questions of safety issues of ATRs in icy conditions.
	American Eagle ERJ-145 Photo courtesy: Paul Wickstrom
	American Eagle Terminal at Dusk Photo courtesy: Paul Wickstrom
	American Airlines Terminal 3 Ramp
	Terminals 2 & 3 at Dusk Photo courtesy: Paul Wickstrom
	American Airlines Vintage Flagship 737-800 American has painted two of its jets in vintage colors. A 757-200 is branded in the 1959 colors while this 737NG is resplendent in the 1964-68 scheme.
	American Airlines MD-80 American operates over 250 MD-80s forming the backbone of their fleets.
	American Eagle ERJs American operates an all Jet Eagle fleet at ORD with the Brazillian RJs replacing the ATRs.
	American Airlines Boeing 777-200 Photo taken by: Paul Wickstrom
	American Airlines MD-80 Photo taken by: Paul Wickstrom
	O'Hare Night Ops Photo courtesy: Paul Wickstrom
	American Airlines MD-80 at Night Photo courtesy: Paul Wickstrom
	American Airlines MD-80 at Night Photo taken by: Paul Wickstrom
	American Airlines 757at Night Photo taken by: Paul Wickstrom
	American Airlines MD-80 at Night Photo courtesy: Paul Wickstrom
	Photo courtesy: Paul Wickstrom
	United Midfield Terminal at Dusk Photo courtesy: Paul Wickstrom
	United Airlines Gates United has 2 main concourses, a midfield and one attached to the main terminal.They are seen here between banks.

	United CRJ-200 United Express operates the Bombardier CRJ-200 in large numbers into O’Hare. United Express is now an all-jet operation at ORD.

	United CRJ-200 and BAe146 United Express partner operates the Bombardier CRJ-200 and BAe 146s into ORD.
	ORD Traffic Jam A typical scene at the world's second busiest airport is this traffic jam on the taxi way. O'Hare is unique in that two of the world's largest airlines, United and American both battle it out here with massive hubs. In the summer of 2004, the FAA and DOT cracked down on the 2 carriers to pull back some service and reschedule flights away from peak times after ORD gained the dubious distinction of having the most number of delays in commercial aviation history.
	United Airlines Airbus A-320
	UA Airbus A320 and Canadair RJ-200 Can you say follow the leader? These days the trend is definately towards smaller aircraft.
	American West Airbus A-320 and Control Towers
	International Terminal Due to it's hub status and home of a large ethnic population, ORD has become a major international gateway. In the late 1990s, this dedicated international terminal was constructed to handle the traffic.
	O'Hare American and United dominate the scene but all major U.S. airlines serve the world's second busiest airport including Continental which once had a major presence here.
	New Control Tower The ORD control tower seen from the Hilton Airport Hotel.
	USA 3000 USA 3000 is a charter airline operating 2 Airbus A 320’s to vacation destinations primarily in the Caribbean.
	Jump to Chicago O'Hare Vintage Postcards