O'Hare, Midway brace for spring break crush amid shutdown chaos

The latest: Airports across the country are dealing with long lines and delays, as the shutdown now enters its second month and there is no clear path to a deal in Congress.

What they're saying: "This is our Super Bowl," United Airlines vice president of operations Omar Idris said at a recent media roundtable.

• "We always rise to the occasion when it comes to welcoming travelers no matter the time of year, " Mayor Brandon Johnson said in a press release on Thursday.

By the numbers: Nearly 4 million passengers are expected to pass through O'Hare and Midway between Friday and March 30, according to the Chicago Department of Aviation.

• That's more than a 10% increase from the same period last year.
• United expects to serve 27 million customers worldwide March 6–April 27, setting a new record for the airline.
• During that period, United expects more than 24,000 daily travelers through O'Hare — a 20% increase from last year.

• Thursday is projected to be O'Hare's busiest day, with more than 296,000 passengers.

Flashback: Storms earlier this week caused long lines and thousands of delays and cancellations at O'Hare.

Yes, but: Even without bad weather, the shutdown could create new headaches, including potential TSA staffing shortages.

If you fly: TSA and airlines recommend arriving at least two hours before domestic flights and three hours before international flights.

Of note: O'Hare and Midway will host live musicians in select terminals to ease travel stress.

The bottom line: Spring break will stress-test Chicago's airports.