'Allow Extra Time': Security Tightened at O'Hare, Midway

Travelers using O'Hare and Midway airports this week are being asked to give themselves extra time to get to their flights because of heightened security measures and holiday crowds.

After a terror attack at Glasgow Airport in Scotland and two foiled car bombs in London, U.S. officials on Saturday advised major airports nationwide to beef up security until further notice.

Chicago aviation officials expect their additional security measures -- which include random car inspections, increased canine units and more officers patrolling terminals -- to be in place throughout the week.

"We're asking travelers to allow extra time -- at least two hours prior to their scheduled departures," said Aviation Department spokeswoman Wendy Abrams.

The Fourth of July holiday is kicking off what officials are projecting will be the busiest month ever at O'Hare in terms of passenger volume.

FALSE ALARM AT O'HARE

O'Hare's busiest day this week is expected to be Thursday, with a projected 254,000 passengers using the airport.

Midway's busiest day should be Friday, with about 77,000 passengers passing through.

On Sunday, police and fire officials at O'Hare closed off an area behind a Lufthansa hangar after a 55-gallon drum was found punctured. Authorities later deemed there was nothing unusual about the drum or the chemical inside it, which is used in the normal course of airline operations.

cfusco@suntimes.com

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