Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) plans to open a passenger lounge for the first time in the airport’s history in 2024.
The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA), which runs O’Hare International Airport and MDW, says in a statement that “Club MDW will be available for all travelers regardless of airlines and class of service.”
Passengers will be able to utilize the lounge with a $50 day pass, and can also gain entry by becoming members with Priority Pass, a company that provides access to independent lounges at airports. Priority Pass offers a tiered menu of annual membership fees starting at $99 and climbing to $469 for the most premium level. The Midway lounge will offer food and beverage service at no additional charge.
Dominated by Southwest Airlines, which has a more than 90% market share at MDW, the airport’s routes are around 95% domestic. Open since 1927, MDW has never had a passenger lounge of the type that has become standard at hub airports.
CDA Commissioner Jamie Rhee says the “new lounge in the heart of Midway is the next step in elevating the passenger experience as Midway continues to see travel numbers that outpace pre-pandemic statistics.”
The lounge, which will span 3,300 ft.2, is set to be located at the intersection of MDW’s Concourses A and B. It will “draw inspiration from Chicago’s rich architectural history, featuring high-contrast, monochromatic tones,” CDA says.
Construction on the lounge is slated to begin early next year, with CDA eyeing a fall 2024 opening.
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