The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) is preparing for a major holiday travel rush, with nearly 4.8 million passengers expected to travel through O’Hare and Midway International Airports through Monday, Jan. 5, based on airline projections. Those total marks a nearly six percent increase over 2024’s year-end holiday season. O’Hare is expected to welcome more than four million passengers over the next few weeks, according to airline projections — an average of nearly 224,000 travelers per day and a 7.5 percent increase compared to the 2024 holiday season. At Midway, airline projections show nearly 770,000 passengers are expected through Monday, Jan. 5, averaging about 42,000 travelers per day over the holiday season. The busiest day is projected to be Saturday, Dec. 27, when more than 48,000 passengers are expected to travel through the “busiest square mile in aviation.” For more information, visit www.FlyChicago.com.