✈️ Chicago Midway Slips 4.4% as Chicago Executive Holds Flat
Chicago's two business-aviation airports diverged modestly this year. Avi-Go data shows Midway (KMDW) logged 21,134 movements from January 1 to July 21, 2026, down 979 from 22,113 a year earlier (-4.4%); over the same period Chicago Executive (KPWK) rose just 119 to 18,594 (+0.6%) — essentially flat — narrowing the two airports' absolute gap somewhat. The operator composition differs markedly: KMDW is led by NetJets (6,030 movements) and Flexjet (2,770 movements), with fractional ownership and commercial attributes standing out; KPWK is likewise topped by NetJets (2,930 movements) and Flexjet (1,774 movements), but corporate-owned fleet Labcorp ranks third with 837 movements, giving it a stronger corporate self-flying character.
Impact: With KMDW slipping modestly and KPWK holding flat, the two airports' absolute gap narrows somewhat; KPWK's appeal to corporate-owned fleets gives it a more differentiated edge on the general-aviation service side.
Recommendation: FBOs and ground service providers serving KPWK can, before the end of Q3 2026, launch customized hangar and ground support solutions targeting corporate-owned fleets like Labcorp to solidify corporate client loyalty; operators serving KMDW should closely track Q4 fractional ownership traffic trends and promptly adjust slot and staffing allocations.