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Verdict

Edinburgh Airport (EDI) scores higher overall at 7.6/10 versus Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) at 7.4/10. Chicago O'Hare International Airport leads on lounges at 8.0/10.

Score comparison

Metric Edinburgh Airport Chicago O'Hare International Airport
FlightLogic Score 7.6 7.4
On-Time Performance 7.4 7.0
Passenger Experience 7.6 7.2
Facilities & Comfort 7.8 7.8
Lounge Score 7.2 8.0
City Edinburgh Chicago
Country United Kingdom United States
Terminals 1 terminal 4 terminals (T1–T3 domestic, T5 international)
Annual passengers 15M+ 73M+

Operational comparison

Transport links, lounge access, connection times, and UK261 eligibility — verify locally before travel.

Policy EDI — Edinburgh ORD — Chicago
Rail / public transport
To city centre
Lounge day pass
Min. connection time
Primary hub carriers

Detailed profiles

Edinburgh, United Kingdom · EDI · #1 in this comparison

Edinburgh Airport

1 terminal · 15M+ passengers/year

7.6 / 10

How good is Edinburgh Airport?

Edinburgh Airport (EDI) scores 7.6/10 (Very Good) on FlightLogic's airport index — combining on-time performance (7.4), passenger experience (7.6), and facilities (7.8). Lounge quality rates 7.2/10. See full airport guide →

In short

Edinburgh EDI scores 7.6/10 on FlightLogic — Scotland's busiest airport. Tram to city centre ~30 min. Long-haul via Emirates, Qatar, United. UK261 applies to all departures. See /guides/edinburgh-airport-lounge-guide.

FlightLogic Score 7.6 Very Good
On-time 7.4 Departure reliability
Experience 7.6 Staff, queues, cleanliness
Facilities 7.8 Food, shops, seating
Lounges 7.2 Lounge quality
Rating basis Editorial FlightLogic methodology

Score breakdown

Modelled on industry airport indices — on-time data, facilities ratings, and editorial experience signals combined into a single FlightLogic score.

On-Time Performance
7.4
Passenger Experience
7.6
Facilities & Comfort
7.8
Lounge score 7.2/10

Highlights

  • Scotland's primary international gateway — Emirates, Qatar Airways, and United long-haul plus dense European network
  • Edinburgh Trams reach city centre in ~30 minutes — direct link from airport stop
  • No1 Lounge and Aspire Lounge accept Priority Pass; pre-book at peak
  • UK261 covers all EDI departures — essential for easyJet and Ryanair Scotland routes

Overview

Scotland's busiest airport — single terminal, tram to Edinburgh city centre in 30 minutes, and growing long-haul via Emirates, Qatar, and United.

Scotland's international hub

Edinburgh handles Scotland's intercontinental traffic — Emirates to Dubai, Qatar to Doha, United to Newark, and seasonal North America routes supplement a dense European network on easyJet, Ryanair, Jet2, and BA.

For UK travellers north of the border, EDI avoids the Edinburgh–Heathrow positioning flight that adds cost and time. Compare MAN (/airports/manchester) for northern England connectivity.

Tram and ground transport

Edinburgh Trams run from the airport stop to York Place in the city centre every 7–10 minutes, taking ~30 minutes. Taxis and Uber operate from signed landside pick-up zones.

Allow extra time during Edinburgh Festival (August) when passenger volumes spike.

Chicago, United States · ORD · #2 in this comparison

Chicago O'Hare International Airport

4 terminals (T1–T3 domestic, T5 international) · 73M+ passengers/year

7.4 / 10

How good is Chicago O'Hare International Airport?

Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) scores 7.4/10 (Very Good) on FlightLogic's airport index — combining on-time performance (7.0), passenger experience (7.2), and facilities (7.8). Lounge quality rates 8.0/10. See full airport guide →

In short

Chicago O'Hare (ORD) scores 7.4/10 on FlightLogic with lounge score 8.0/10. All international flights depart Terminal 5 — alliance lounges serve Star Alliance and oneworld partners. United Polaris is in Terminal 1 only. See /guides/ord-airport-lounge-guide.

FlightLogic Score 7.4 Very Good
On-time 7.0 Departure reliability
Experience 7.2 Staff, queues, cleanliness
Facilities 7.8 Food, shops, seating
Lounges 8.0 Lounge quality
Rating basis Editorial FlightLogic methodology

Score breakdown

Modelled on industry airport indices — on-time data, facilities ratings, and editorial experience signals combined into a single FlightLogic score.

On-Time Performance
7.0
Passenger Experience
7.2
Facilities & Comfort
7.8
Lounge score 8.0/10

Highlights

  • Terminal 5 handles all international departures — Star Alliance, oneworld, and SkyTeam alliance lounges
  • United Polaris Lounge in Terminal 1 for United long-haul business class — not reachable airside from T5
  • Common connection point for UK–US domestic and UK–Asia routings via United and American
  • ORD people mover links terminals landside — plan 60+ minutes for terminal changes

Overview

United Airlines and American Airlines mega-hub — Terminal 5 international departures with Star Alliance and oneworld lounges for transatlantic connections.

Terminal 5 international hub

Terminal 5 consolidates international departures with Swissport-operated alliance lounges for Star Alliance, oneworld, and SkyTeam. United and American domestic connections require landside terminal transfer and re-security.

UK travellers connecting to US domestic flights should allow 2+ hours minimum for immigration, baggage reclaim if not interlined, and re-check.

More comparisons

Compare Edinburgh Airport (EDI) against 59 other airports
Compare Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) against 59 other airports

FAQ

Which is better, Edinburgh Airport or Chicago O'Hare International Airport?

Edinburgh Airport (EDI) scores higher overall at 7.6/10 versus Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) at 7.4/10. Chicago O'Hare International Airport leads on lounges at 8.0/10.

Which has better lounges, EDI or ORD?

Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) scores higher for lounges at 8.0/10, versus Edinburgh Airport at 7.2/10.

Which airport is more on-time, EDI or ORD?

Edinburgh Airport (EDI) has stronger on-time performance at 7.4/10 versus Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) at 7.0/10.