Holiday travelers face large crowds at Chicago airports

CHICAGO (FOX 32 News/ AP) — If you are traveling by plane this Christmas week, you will find A LOT of company at Chicago's airports.

December 23, the day before Christmas Eve, is one of the busiest days of the year. And if you are planning on heading to Midway or O'Hare, you will want to get there early! More than 4.6 million travelers are expected to pass through Chicago's two airports during the holidays!

The Chicago Department of Aviation says airline passenger forecasts are up at both airports for the holiday travel period between Dec. 19 and Jan. 5.

O'Hare International Airport is expected to see an 8 percent increase over the same period last year with 3.5 million passengers. 

Passenger numbers at Midway International Airport are expected to increase 1.5 percent to 1.1 million. Midway's busiest day is forecast to be Wednesday.

Travelers are both airports will get a dose of holiday cheer. Midway will serve up free hot cocoa. O'Hare will have a holiday photo booth complete with props.

And if you have a little bit of travel anxiety, O'Hare says they will have "comfort dogs" on hand to help ease the stress of holiday travel. Click here for more on that story.