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Elmhurst alderman reports O'Hare noise uptick; airport authorities cite increased operations
Summary
Alderman Baker reported July increases in O'Hare operations and local complaints, and explained runway use and overnight departures that can affect Elmhurst; committee membership and reporting duties were noted.
Alderman Baker on Monday gave an update on O'Hare noise and operations based on the October area Noise Compatibility Commission (ONCC) meeting, reporting that airline operations at O'Hare were high in July and that Elmhurst experienced hundreds of noise complaints originating from a small number of households.
Baker said July 2025 saw 78,054 operations at O'Hare — the highest July total since 2016 — and 28,982 complaints to the airport hotline for that month. He said Elmhurst logged 377 complaints in July coming from seven households. Baker noted airport officials told ONCC that runway assignments are determined by FAA air‑traffic controllers based on wind and weather and that the Chicago Department of Aviation said the recent increases in departures on runway 4R/22L were the result of higher traffic volume rather than construction.
Baker said departures using runway 4R/22L have increased and that departures are louder and emit more emissions than arrivals, as engines are at higher power setting during takeoff. “Departures are significantly worse from a noise perspective, and I would guess significantly worse, from a pollution perspective,” he said.
Alderman Bram, who also follows ONCC and Fly Quiet issues, said the diagonal runway chiefly affects Elmhurst’s northeast neighborhoods and that the frequency of departures along that path has heightened local impacts. Both aldermen urged residents to use the airport complaint hotline; Bram noted complaint logging is not always practical for residents to do repeatedly, which can undercount the true experience in complaint statistics.
Baker said he will continue to report ONCC activity to the council and that residents can contact him with questions.
