Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) recovered to 87.3% of 2019 passenger traffic levels in 2023, but the airport expects “sustained” growth this year and is optimistic about a “strong” summer season in which traffic will be close in on pre-pandemic levels.

ORD handled 73.9 million passengers in 2023, up 8.1% over 2022, but still down 12.7% from 2019, according to statistics released by the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA), which runs ORD and Chicago Midway Airport (MDW). MDW handled 22 million passengers in 2023, up 10.7% over 2022 and a 5.5% increase over 2019. CDA notes MDW pushed past 2019 traffic levels in the 2023 first half.

CDA Commissioner Jamie Rhee says in a statement that passenger volumes at the two airports are “on the upswing,” pointing to the “diversity and frequency of air service options planned for this summer.”

According to CDA, scheduled departing seats from O’Hare in July 2024 are expected to reach 97% of July 2019 levels. “O’Hare will also serve 67 international destinations this July, up from 65 in July 2019,” CDA notes.

United Airlines, which utilizes ORD as its base hub, plans to operate 175 routes to and from O’Hare this summer. The carrier will operate to 15 European airports, up from nine in the 2019 summer.

“Published flight schedules from United also show positive trends in [ORD] seat capacity for 2024 when compared to 2019—up 3% in July, 4% in August and 1% in September, compared to the same months in 2019,” CDA says.

United will open daily summer seasonal service to Athens from May 23. On the same date, United will launch new daily service to both Winnipeg and Quebec City in Canada.

CDA notes Cathay Pacific will increase frequencies between ORD and Hong Kong to 5X-weekly from 3X-weekly from March 31.

CDA notes ORD will “have its largest number of Italian destinations ever in 2024.” Italian carrier ITA Airways will launch 6X-weekly service to Rome Fiumicino Airport from April 7, rising to daily frequencies in June. American Airlines, which also operates a hub at O’Hare, plans to start daily summer seasonal service between ORD and Venice from June 5.