Stand at the corner of 55th and Cicero and you can watch 737s clear the fence every couple of minutes: Midway packs one of America's busiest operations into a single square mile of Chicago's South Side. The airport, renamed in 1949 after the 1942 Battle of Midway, was the world's busiest until O'Hare overtook it; today it serves over 20 million passengers a year as Southwest Airlines' leading base. For freight, the honest answer is short: there is no meaningful cargo operation at MDW – the hemmed-in site, short runways and absent cargo infrastructure rule out freighters. Chicagoland's air cargo concentrates at O'Hare, with express volumes also moving via Rockford; both are quick truck runs on I-55 and I-294. Midway's role in the supply chain is moving people, not pallets – and doing so on a footprint that would barely hold another airport's parking lots.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the IATA code of Chicago Midway International Airport?▼

The IATA code of Chicago Midway International Airport is MDW. This three-letter code is used for unique airport identification in international air transport.

Where is Chicago Midway International Airport located?▼

Chicago Midway International Airport is located in Chicago, US.

What is the ICAO code of Chicago Midway International Airport?▼

The ICAO code of Chicago Midway International Airport is KMDW. This four-letter code is used internationally in aviation.

What is the elevation of Chicago Midway International Airport?▼

Chicago Midway International Airport is at an elevation of 189 meters (620 ft) above sea level.

Location & Weather

41.78600, -87.75240

189 m ü. NN

Transit time routes from Chicago

Chicago → Shanghai Chicago → Shenzhen Chicago → Guangzhou Chicago → Hong Kong Chicago → Tokyo Chicago → Busan

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Last updated: 31 July 2026

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This airport is a record in the Global Cargo Airport Dataset.

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Recommended format: Source: Freight Academy – Chicago Midway International Airport (https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/chicago-midway-international-airport-mdw), accessed 2026-10-21
APA style: Freight Academy Editorial Team. (2026). Chicago Midway International Airport. Freight Academy. https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/chicago-midway-international-airport-mdw
BibTeX: @misc{chicagomidwayinternational2026, title = {Chicago Midway International Airport}, author = {{Freight Academy Editorial Team}}, year = {2026}, url = {https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/chicago-midway-international-airport-mdw}, note = {Freight Academy, accessed 2026-10-21} }

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