Jet-setters have spoken, and for the 20th year running, O'Hare International Airport has snagged the coveted title of "Best Airport in North America," pulling off a two-decade tarmac triumph in Global Traveler's annual rankings that's got Chicago crowing louder than a jet engine at takeoff. In a city famed for its towering skyscrapers and gusty winds, it's O'Hare's sterling service and Midwestern hospitality that keep it flying high in the estimations of frequent luxury travelers, as per the Chicago Department of Aviation's proud proclamation.
Throwing his weight behind the accolades, Windy City Mayor Brandon Johnson waxed poetic about Chicago's brand of homespun warmth that permeates airport terminals just as it does the city's bluesy alleyways. "Chicagoans pride ourselves in making everyone feel like they are at home, and we strive every day to make sure that sense of community is felt for busy passengers traveling through our airports," Johnson beamed, according to the hearty hometown announcement. Meanwhile, CDA Commissioner Jamie L. Rhee echoed that sentiment. The O'Hare team perspires daily to better the mile-high experience for weary wanderers, finding fuel in Global Traveler's enduring nod.
Global Traveler's publisher, Francis X. Gallagher, lauded O'Hare's consistent performance in the GT Tested Reader Survey, which has seen the airport reign supreme since its inception, setting a gold standard of sorts that Gallagher finds other mega-hubs lacking. "Congratulations to Chicago O'Hare International Airport for winning Best Airport in North America for the past 20 years in our GT Tested Reader Survey awards," Gallagher told Chicago's CDA, hinting at O'Hare's special blend of options and ease that keeps it fixed in travelers' minds, the city noted.
O'Hare's hangar full of 2023 kudos also included plaudits for "Best Airport Dining" by Trazee Travel and the "Capital Award Winner – Terminal 5 Extension" by the American Institute of Architects, signaling a banner year of industry nods and infrastructural feats.
