Midway Services history

By 1961, commercial flights at O'Hare soared past Midway causing it to relinquish the "World's Busiest Airport" title.

United Airlines, the first airline to institute service at Midway, was now the last to move out, with its last flight departing to Toledo, Ohio, in 1962.

In the year 1964 C.O. Wold retired and Roger Wold became owner-operator of Midway Service and Wold Oil Company.

In 1967, the City spent more than $10 million to redevelop the North Terminal.

1968 saw the return of American, Delta, Eastern, Northwest, Ozark, and TWA airlines to Midway Airport.

September 1971 was declared Midway Month by Mayor Richard J. Daley, a staunch supporter of the airport.

Over a chaotic two day period during the fall of Saigon in April 1975, Midway was a floating base for large Air Force helicopters which evacuated more than 3,000 desperate refugees during Operation Frequent Wind.

1979 brought the arrival of the first airline created following deregulation - Midway Airlines.

Mayor Jane Byrne announced a $200 million development plan for Midway Airport in 1981.

In 1988, Jim and Tanya Vollan bought the Midway Corner property and Wold Oil Company, which became Vollan Oil Company.

In 1991, Midway Airlines declared bankruptcy and later in the year the airport ceased operations.

In 1992, Southwest Airlines signed a significant contract with the City of Chicago, increasing the use of the southwest side facility.

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) began rapid transit Orange Line rail service to Midway in 1993, making the commute to the airport fast, easy and inexpensive, and helping reinforce Midway's presence as Chicago's close-in and convenient airport.

The Midway Airport Parking Garage opened in 1999, bringing covered parking to the airport for the first time.

In 2002, a new Federal Inspection Service facility opened at Midway, which allowed the return of direct international service after a 40-year absence.

The Midway’s actual arrival in San Diego in January 2004 was the culmination for me of nearly eight years of participation and contribution, albeit in highly specialized ways, in transforming an empty retired carrier into a leading museum and attraction.

A new 6,300-space economy parking garage, including a new bridge and roadway used exclusively for buses shuttling passengers to and from the terminal opened in December 2005.