(By One Estimate) Chicago Has the Best Air Service

Despite being well-known and maligned for delays and overall service, Chicago is ranked the best city for air service.

1 minute read

February 1, 2018, 5:00 AM PST

By snewberg @JoeUrbanist


Midway Airport

O'Hare isn't the only show in town. | Thomas Barrat / Shutterstock

A new study by the Eno Center for Transportation ranks Chicago as the best city in the United States for air service, despite the city being known for bad weather and Chicago's O'Hare airport in particular being known for extensive delays for passengers.

The Eno Center study scored cities across the United States based on overall nonstop flight options, frequency of flights, amount of overall competition and the price of airfare on average, the latter two being related. 

By these metrics, Chicago scored well, due to a mid-continent location and the fact that it has two airports (O'Hare and Midway) that collectively provide 170 nonstop destinations. As well, Midway is served by a major Southwest airlines, which helps keep overall airfare out of Chicago more affordable. 

Denver, Los Angeles, and Dallas rank second, third, and fourth, respectively. 

Tuesday, January 16, 2018 in Forbes

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 11, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Rendering of Shirley Chisholm Village four-story housing development with person biking in front.

San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning

SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.

June 8, 2025 - Fast Company

Yellow single-seat Japanese electric vehicle drivign down road.

The Tiny, Adorable $7,000 Car Turning Japan Onto EVs

The single seat Mibot charges from a regular plug as quickly as an iPad, and is about half the price of an average EV.

June 6, 2025 - PC Magazine

White Waymo autonomous car driving fast down city street with blurred background at night.

Seattle's Plan for Adopting Driverless Cars

Equity, safety, accessibility and affordability are front of mind as the city prepares for robotaxis and other autonomous vehicles.

4 hours ago - Smart Cities Dive

Two small wooden one-story homes in Florida with floodwaters at their doors.

As Trump Phases Out FEMA, Is It Time to Flee the Floodplains?

With less federal funding available for disaster relief efforts, the need to relocate at-risk communities is more urgent than ever.

6 hours ago - Governing

People riding bicycles on separated bike trail.

With Protected Lanes, 460% More People Commute by Bike

For those needing more ammo, more data proving what we already knew is here.

June 16 - UNM News