Located roughly 12 miles southwest of Chicago's Loop business district, Chicago Midway International Airport is the second-busiest airport in both the Chicago metropolitan area and Illinois. Established in 1927 and spanning just over one square mile, this historic hub served as the city's primary gateway until 1944. Today, it remains a vital commercial airport, serving over 22 million passengers in 2023 across four active runways.
The airport operates through a unified terminal complex completed in 2001 that bridges Cicero Avenue. Inside, you will find 43 passenger gates distributed across three concourses: A, B, and C. Southwest Airlines serves as the airport's main carrier, handling over 90% of all passenger traffic. International arrivals are accommodated via a dedicated Federal Inspection Service facility in Concourse A.
01 Terminals & concourses
Completed in 2001, this central complex bridges Cicero Avenue and features 43 gates alongside international facilities. Concourse A has 17 gates, Concourse B has 23 gates, and Concourse C offers 3 gates.
Airport map
The free OpenStreetMap layer below shows the whole airport — terminals, concourses, access roads and the parking garages. Zoom in for gate-level detail.
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL, free). Official gate/terminal maps are copyrighted — we link to them.
02 Which terminal does my airline use?
Airlines are grouped by alliance and region. Always confirm the concourse printed on your boarding pass — assignments can change seasonally.
Show all airlines by terminal ›
Grouped by terminal — check the concourse on your boarding pass before you fly; assignments can change seasonally.
Lost, delayed or damaged baggage at MDW
If your checked bag doesn't turn up on the belt, act before you leave the baggage-claim area — that's where every airline keeps its Baggage Service Office.
- Go to your airline's Baggage Service Office in the baggage-claim hall of your arrival terminal.
- File a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) and get your file reference (WorldTracer) number. Keep your bag-tag receipt and boarding pass.
- Track it online using that reference on your airline's baggage-tracking page — most bags are located within 24–48 hours.
- Claim your essentials. On delayed bags airlines reimburse reasonable interim purchases (toiletries, clothing) — keep receipts. International trips are covered by the Montreal Convention.
- If it's truly lost (generally after 21 days) or damaged, file the claim at the same office — damage must be reported before you leave the airport.
Left something in the terminal (not a checked bag)? That's handled by the airport Lost & Found. Items left at a TSA security checkpoint are held by the TSA, not the airline.
03 Getting to & from MDW
These are the ground-transport options connecting the airport with the city. Fares and schedules change — check the operator before you travel.
| Option | Details |
|---|---|
| Rail | The CTA rapid transit Orange Line connects Midway directly to downtown Chicago's Loop in 20 to 25 minutes. |
| Bus | CTA and Pace buses serve the Midway station hub, offering connections to local neighborhoods and suburbs. |
| Bus | The N62 Archer bus provides transit to the Loop during overnight hours when the Orange Line is not running. |
| Bus | River Valley Metro MTD operates a daily express shuttle connecting Midway to Bourbonnais and Manteno. |
04 Lounges & amenities
The terminal complex features dining options and redeveloped food courts in the central area and Concourse A.
