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A temporary closure is expected to have widespread implications at Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW), as the Windy City's second busiest airport had to close Runway 22L to repair a runway safety system after jet blast damage. The airport, which is located on the city's southwest side, is an operating base for Frontier Airlines and 
Southwest Airlines, with Southwest demanding more than 90% of all flights.
Damage to the airport's Engineered Materials Arresting System (also known as EMAS) was caused by recent aircraft activity, including a jet blast. This has ultimately caused the closure of the runway, which is expected to have a knock-on effect on flights, with cancellations or extended flight delays.
Chicago Midway Loses One Runway Temporarily For Urgent Repairs
Runway 22L, one of four active runways at Chicago Midway, is now closed to undergo urgent repairs. The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) is working closely with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the airline partners at the airport to work through reducing disruptions and the ability to return the airport to full operating conditions as soon as possible.
Travelers are encouraged to check their flight status for any upcoming flights and check with airlines before heading to the airport. Any impacts to bookings should be communicated. Airlines are already working through any implications to current flight bookings.
Simple Flying reached out to the CDA and Midway's largest operator, Southwest, for comment; however, neither party was available immediately to provide a statement. CDA Commissioner Michael McMurray did share a statement that was reported by CBS News:
"Safety is the top priority at Chicago's airports, and we are working to complete these repairs safely and promptly. We're coordinating closely with our partners at the FAA and the airlines to reduce disruptions for travelers and return the airfield to normal operating conditions as quickly and safely as possible."
Chicago Midway Repairs Scheduled To Be Completed By Mid-November
As we head into the festive season, travel demand is ramping up across the country. Airport repairs at Midway are scheduled to be finished by mid-November, just in time for the busy thanksgiving rush. As the airport undergoes repairs, the CDA is working with the administration and airlines to minimise operational impacts where possible.
Chicago Midway has four active runways; however, two are primarily used for air carrier traffic, being 13L/31R and 4R/22L. As Runway 22 remains closed, this will require airline operations to use 31R, the other longer, main runway. Full details for MDW operations below:
|
Runway |
Length (Feet) |
Length (Meters) |
Surface |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4L/22R |
5,507 feet |
1,679 meters |
Concrete |
Mostly used for general aviation |
|
4R/22L |
6,445 feet |
1,964 meters |
Asphalt concrete |
Primary air carrier runway and equipped with Instrument Landing System (ILS) |
|
13L/31R |
6,522 feet |
1,988 meters |
Concrete |
Primary air carrier runway and equipped with Instrument Landing System (ILS) |
|
13R/31L |
3,859 feet |
1,176 meters |
Asphalt concrete |
Mostly used for general aviation |
As already mentioned, the airline likely to feel the most impact from the runway closure is Southwest. Between June 2025 and May 2026, the airline transported in excess of 17 million passengers through the airport (91%). Earlier this year, the carrier exited Chicago's main airport, O'Hare, and refocused all Chicago operations from Midway.
A Look At Southwest Operations At Chicago Midway
Southwest operates roughly four out of every five flights at Midway and has the largest domestic network of any airline operating at the airport. The carrier has a network of 72 domestic and international destinations, including 69 domestic (with eight of these seasonal), while three international routes are served (one of which is seasonal).
Mexican low-cost carrier Volaris operates the largest international network by number of destinations served, with the budget airline providing nonstop services to seven destinations in Mexico.
Other operators at Midway include Allegiant Air, which provides domestic nonstop flights, alongside Delta Air Lines (and Delta Connection), Frontier Airlines, and Porter Airlines. Porter will exit Midway on October 24, after 18 years of providing nonstop services from Billy Bishop Toronto City Centre Airport (YTZ). This comes as the Canadian airline moves its operations to O'Hare.