Do not get this mixed up with this guide. I have talked with the moderators, and I can make this new one.
Welcome to Midway!!!
History | Airline Guides | GA Companies | Aircraft Parking | Runways | STARs and APPs | ATC Frequencies | Extra Info
History
Excerpts from Wikipedia
Chicago Midway International Airport is a major commercial airport on the Southwest (pun intended) side of Chicago, Illinois. Originally named Chicago Air Park, Midway Airport was built on a 320-acre plot in 1923 with one cinder runway mainly for airmail flights. By 1967, reconstruction began at the airport, adding three new concourses, and in 1968, the city invested $10 million in renovation funds.
Modern Day - Own Words
Now, Midway is home to major airlines and has 4 runways. Midway is used for both commercial and private/charter flights, with no cargo service.
Airline Guides
Airlines serving MDW include:
- Southwest (Concourse A, B)*
- Frontier (Concourse C)*
- Delta (Concourse A)*
- Skywest [Delta Connection] (Concourse A)*
- Volaris (Concourse A)*
- Allegiant (Concourse A)*
- Porter (Concourse A)*
*See parking areas
Aircraft Operated by these Airlines (Last updated 5/4/2025)
- Southwest
- B737
- B738
- B38M
- Frontier
- A20N
- Delta
- B712
- Skywest
- E175
- Volaris
- A20N
- A320
- Allegiant
- A319
- A320
- Frontier
- A20N
- Porter
- Dash-8
GA Companies
At MDW you will most likely see either
- FlexJet
- NetJets
GA companies like these usually park at the tie-downs and hangars at the West Ramp (See Parking Areas (Aircraft)), whereas smaller aircraft, such as privately owned propeller planes, park at the South Ramp.
Parking Areas (Aircraft)
Midway consists of 3 Concourses: Concourses A, B, and C, whilst having two GA ramps: the West and South ramps, and one maintenance ramp/hangar area for SWA, the North ramp.
Terminal/Passenger
| Concourse | Airlines | Gates | Largest Aircraft Accomadated |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Delta, Allegiant, Volaris, Porter, Southwest | A1, A2, A3, A4A, A4B A5, A7, A9, A10, A11, A12, A14, A15, A16, A17, A18, A19 (17 Total) | MD-11* / 767-300ER* Gates A5, A7 |
| B | Southwest | B1, B2, B3, B5, B7, B8, B9, B10, B11, B12, B14, B15, B16, B17, B18, B19, B20, B21, B22, B23, B24, B25, B26 (23 Total) | A321 All Gates |
| C | Frontier | C1, C2, C3 (3 Total) | MD-11* / 767-300ER* All Gates |
Total Gates: 43
*These aircraft can’t go due to limited runway space and small taxiways.
Ramps
| Ramp | Tiedowns (#) | Hangars (#) | Largest Aircraft Accomadated (Tiedowns) | Largest Aircraft Accomadated (Hangars) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South (GA) | 25 | 4 | CRJ-200 Tiedowns 17-25 | A321* Midway Armory Hangar |
| West (GA) | 9 | 5 | A321* Eagle Flight Services Tiedown | A321* Signature Flight Support Hangar, Eagle Flight Services Hangar |
| North (SWA ONLY) | N/A (in IF) | 2 | N/A | A321** All Hangars |
*An A321 would not be used because of the small taxiways around runway 31L (see runways)
**An A321 would not be used because the North ramp is reserved for SWA which doesn’t operate the A321.
Runways
Midway has 4 runways, with two being used the most both for commercial and jet GA traffic whilst the other two are used for propeller traffic albeit rarely.
| Name | Length | Heading | Material | Commercial/GA (Mainly) | How often is it used, from 1-5? (1 is rare, 5 is common) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13C/31R | 6522 ft | ~317 | Concrete | Commercial | 4 |
| 13R/31L | 3859 ft | ~317 | Concrete | GA | 1 |
| 4R/22L | 6445 ft | ~227 | Asphalt/Concrete | Commercial | 5 |
| 4L/22R | 5507 ft | ~227 | Asphalt | GA | 3 |
Midway used to have 5 runways before 31R/13L closed and is used as taxiway H.
STARs and APPs
STARs
| Name |
|---|
| PANGG FIVE |
| GOSHEN NINE |
| FISSK SIX |
| ENDEE SIX |
| MOTIF SIX |
APPs
| Name | Type |
|---|---|
| ILS/LOC 31C | ILS |
| RNAV (RNP) Y 31C | RNAV/RNP |
| RNAV (GPS) Z 31C | RNAV/GPS |
| RNAV (RNP) X 22L | RNAV/RNP |
| RNAV (RNP) Y 22L | RNAV/RNP |
| RNAV (GPS) Z 22L | RNAV/GPS |
| RNAV (RNP) Y 4R | RNAV/RNP |
| RNAV (GPS) Z 4R | RNAV/GPS |
| ILS/LOC 4R | ILS |
| RNAV (RNP) Y 13C | RNAV/RNP |
| RNAV (GPS) Z 13C | RNAV/GPS |
| ILS/LOC 13C | ILS |
| RNAV (GPS) 4L | RNAV/GPS |
| RNAV(GPS) 22R | RNAV/GPS |
ATC Frequency
| Frequency | Name |
|---|---|
| UNICOM | 122.95 |
| D-ATIS | 132.75 |
| MDW TOWER | 135.2 |
| MDW GROUND | 118.075 |
| CHIAGO APPORACH | 128.2 126.05 |
| CHICAGO DEPARTURE | 128.2 126.05 |
Extra Info
PCT of Market share at KMDW (Top 4)
- (AIRLINE) (avg. PAX) (PCT)
- Southwest Airlines; 18,601,000; 90.50%
- Frontier Airlines; 1,279,000; 6.22%
- Delta Airlines; 300,000; 1.46%
- Skywest (Delta Connection); 233,000; 1.08
- Other Airlines; 157,000; 0.77%
Pushback Guide
*NOTE: This only applies to the North and West sides of Concourse B and the entirety of Concourse C.
Incorrect:
- Uses Auto Pushback
2.Goes straight to Taxiway
Since MDW is such a small airport with one taxiway operations shown above are not used.
Correct
- Does Manual Pushback
- Turns slightly angled not on Taxiway
- Uses Nose wheel and thrust (after engines are started) to turn towards taxiway
- Is already taxiing by the time they are on the taxiway
The Above allows planes to get their engines started out of the way of other craft.
I can also do demos of this, PM me.
For any errors, let me know.
I hope this was educational and taught you something! If there’s something you didn’t know before that you know now, let me know!