O'Hare International Airport is one of the two largest international airports of the State of Illinois, located in Chicago, 23 km from the central business district. For a long time, it was the leading airport in the world in the number of takeoffs and landings. It was built and put into operation in 1943 as an aircraft plant, named Orchard Place Airport/Douglas Field. Since 1945, it has been developing as an airport. It was renamed in honour of the military pilot Edward "Butch" O'Hare. The airport is capable of servicing about 80 million passengers per year.
At the present stage, the airport is in the process of modernizing and reconstruction of both the terminals and runways. There are 2 secondary runways, which are used in case of emergency and at night. The current terminal are being reconstructed now. They are four in total: 1, 2, 3, and 5.
The airport comprises an intelligent transport system, that connects the passenger terminals, the parking lots and areas. At present, the system is under reconstruction and renovation. Passenger transportation around the area, to the nearest hotels, as well as from one international airport to another is carried out by shuttles and scheduled buses. Airport Express buses depart from the lower levels of all the terminals, at the exits from the baggage claim area. They take passengers to the city centre and most districts of Chicago. The tram line runs from the main parking garage to the city. Taxi and limousine service is available (departure from the exits from arrival area of each terminal).
One has several options to rent a car at the airport. Car rental firms provide a free shuttle service from each terminal. The shuttles depart from the exit from the arrival area at the lower level. There are specialized places, which are marked by the information boards. The following reliable vehicle rental companies operate in O'Hare International Airport: Advantage, Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Hertz, Enterprise, National, Thrifty, and Payless. Another option is to apply to the car rental centre. It is situated between International Terminal 5 and economy parking, along Bessie Coleman Dr.
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