Digging out at O'Hare after the 2011 blizzard in February 2011.

1. Snowbusters: We laugh in the face of snow. Well, no, actually, we take it very seriously. Faced with the third-largest blizzard in Chicago's history with more than 20 inches of snow on February 1-2, 2011, O'Hare was able to maintain one open runway throughout the blizzard, and in less than 24 hours following the storm, we had cleared and opened six of the airport's seven runways. Midway also had an operational runway the morning after the blizzard. This quick recovery allowed airlines the ability to run full schedules and begin to resume normal operations one day after the storm ended.

2. Landing the deal: Modernizing O'Hare, reducing delays and increasing capacity to meet traveler demand are key goals of the O'Hare Modernization Program (OMP). The Program received a nice spring tailwind after airport officials in March successfully negotiated an agreement to continue work on the Program, which includes building a new runway and related projects; North Airfield improvements; extending O'Hare's Airport Transit System; and a new car rental and parking garage.

Blackhawks Restaurant & Bar grand opening, July 2011, O'Hare Terminal 2

3. Eating it up: Some of Chicago's hottest new dining concepts opened up in the 60666 zip code at Butch O'Hare's namesake airport, including the wildly popular Blackhawks Restaurant & Bar; Tortas Frontera by Rick Bayless; Wicker Park Seafood and Sushi Bar; and the first sit-down Starbucks, which used local and recycled materials in its construction. The new Starbucks also offers plenty of outlets to plug in and recharge computers and other electronic devices as Starbucks' coffee and goodies recharge travelers.

4. We thought our pants were getting a little short: Midway was named "fastest-growing" airport in the U.S. by anna.aero. Indeed, Midway is one of the fastest-growing airports in the U.S. with steady growth in passenger traffic. Through October 2011, passenger activity was up 6.7 percent from the same period a year ago. What economic downturn?

5. Awesome South Side parking, coming soon: We broke ground in August on a new Midway consolidated car rental facility at 55th and Laramie, which will provide more parking at the airport and increase capacity for rental cars by more than 500 percent. We expect the new rental car facility to be up and running in 2013.

6. Chicago is their kind of town: Chicago was chosen to host the 20th World Routes Development Forum in 2014. This prestigious, industry-leading global air service event will bring more than 3,000 decision makers to Chicago over a three-day period and provide an excellent opportunity to showcase O'Hare and Midway.

Volaris added new service to Mexico City, Zacatecas and Morelia, Mexico, from Midway in November 2011.

7. Fly me to the moon: OK, O'Hare and Midway don't fly to the moon. Yet. Both airports did, however, see airlines add or expand 11 domestic destinations and nine international destinations. New passenger carriers Virgin America, Cathay Pacific and Copa Airlines joined new cargo carriers AirBridge and Yangtze River at O'Hare. Also Spirit Airlines increased daily flights fivefold. At Midway, new international passenger service was added by Mexican carriers Volaris and VivaAerobus and Midway became Southwest's largest market when the airline added destinations from Chicago including Newark, Greensboro-Spartanburg and Charleston.

8. All in the family: The CDA signed four "Sister Airport" agreements with the international airports of Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Incheon in March 2011. These agreements allow us to learn technical, commercial and environmental best practices from some of the world's most amazing airports, and work cooperatively on a wide range of issues, including airport management; customer service; construction; planning; operations; information technology and sustainable development. The bond we've established with Asian airport operators reinforces the collaboration between Chicago and major Asian cities in terms of regional development, economic and cultural exchanges - allowing us to serve our passengers, airline partners and other aviation stakeholders just that much better.

9. Extreme makeover: We signed an agreement with the highly regarded Westfield Concession Management to upgrade and expand shopping, food and drink choices and other amenities in O'Hare International Terminal 5. Already, Hudson's has opened an attractive news and gift area; and a new duty-free store, Dufry, has been a hit with travelers. And there's plenty more to come.

CDA Commissioner Rosemarie S. Andolino and HMSHost President and CEO Elie Maalouf cut the ribbon at the September 2011 O'Hare Urban Garden grand opening in O'Hare Terminal 3.

10. First aeroponic garden, biggest green roof: Yeah, we're a little, uh, competitive. Committed to remaining a leader in sustainability for the industry, the CDA was proud to open the O'Hare Urban Garden earlier this year in O'Hare Terminal 3, making O'Hare the first airport in the world to have an aeroponic garden that grows vegetables and herbs that are used by restaurants right in the terminals. This initiative alone, in conjunction with HMSHost, helps reduce emissions associated with transporting food to the airport, to give just one example. FedEx opened its new cargo facility at O'Hare with the largest green roof at an airport in the United States, and the CDA began composting programs at some O'Hare and Midway restaurants.

11. Golden gates: Gates are a precious commodity at O'Hare. The CDA this fall successfully closed a transaction to purchase 11 previously exclusive use gates in the L concourse from Delta Airlines. These gates were converted to a mix of preferential and common use - increasing opportunities for new entrant carriers. 

12. We like green airports, Sam-I-am: In 2011, the CDA was able to achieve a 4.5 percent reduction in total energy use - equivalent to removing 1,827 passenger vehicles from roadways - thanks to a range of energy efficiency projects at O'Hare and Midway. Better yet, the CDA received about $1.7 million of grants and incentives from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to help pay for these upgrades. We're very proud! And we're not done yet.