The world’s busiest airport, once
Midway opened in 1927 as Chicago Municipal Airport on a single square mile of land on the city’s south-west side. By the 1950s it was the busiest airport in the world. Its short runways could not handle the new jets, and traffic moved to O’Hare in the 1960s. Midway found new life with low-cost carriers, and today it is one of Southwest Airlines’ largest operations.
What you’ll see on the live cam
The StreamTime Live 4K camera shows Southwest’s 737s dominating the schedule, along with a few other airlines and plenty of business jets. Because the airport is surrounded by streets, approaches pass low over homes and the famous 63rd Street and Cicero Avenue corners.
Runways
Midway has five runways packed into its square mile, including 4L/22R, 4R/22L, 13C/31C, 13L/31R and 13R/31L. The longest is only about 1,990 metres, so pilots land precisely and brake firmly.
Best times to watch
- Morning and evening: Southwest’s busiest banks.
- Winter: snow and de-icing in the Chicago cold.
