The days of speeding through the airport are becoming more and more of a challenge when flying out of or connecting through Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. And if you don’t have TSA Pre-check or Global Entry, and you’re checking a bag, you might find yourself waiting in long lines ahead of reaching your gate.
This past Sunday, July 20, was the busiest day in history for TSA at ORD, Chicago’s largest airport; and this record-setting data marks the seventh time this has happened in 2025. Yikes.
RECOMMENDED: O’Hare was just ranked one of the worst for international summer travel
“Sunday, July 20 was the busiest day of all time for TSA at O’Hare—breaking a record that was set less than a month ago,” wrote the Transportation Security Administration in a social media post that was shared on Twitter/X on Monday.
Safely fielding 115,962 travelers as they made their way through TSA on Sunday could not have been an easy feat. This record-setting amount beats the June 22 numbers of 113,772, the previous record.
These soaring numbers are in contrast to October 14, 2024’s data, which accounted for a mere 108,353 travelers.
Relief isn’t expected anytime soon, especially with the knowledge that seven of the busiest days on record at ORD have occurred this year alone. TSA has advised passengers to “arrive early and pack smart when flying this summer!”.
It’s no surprise that O’Hare is a busy airport, and the expanded daily flights from various carriers like United and American Airlines doesn’t help. While more options can be a fortuitous thing, especially if you’re looking for a direct flight or a good deal, travelers should expect delays and plan accordingly.
Tips for traveling through O’Hare as speedily as possible:
Can you fly on a weekday or take a red-eye flight? Avoiding travel over holidays or school vacation days may help. Make sure you’ve downloaded the air carrier’s app, saving your mobile ticket to your phone. Avoid wearing belts, overcoats and sweaters, or clunky items that you’ll have to remove prior to getting through security. Remember to empty your water bottle. And, if you don’t have TSA Pre-check, you’ll need to take out your larger digital devices like laptops and iPads and place them in the security bins separately. Remember that fluids over 3.4 ounces aren’t allowed in your carry-on. And though you no longer need to remove your shoes, be sure to empty your pockets!