Aviation Comm. Jamie Rhee answers questions from Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36) during a budget hearing on Nov. 22, 2024. [Livestream]

Leaders from the Chicago Department of Aviation presented their proposed 2025 budget Friday afternoon, which is proposed to drop slightly while adding more than a hundred new positions. 

Next year, the aviation department’s budget is set to decrease to $1.5 billion under Mayor Brandon Johnson’s spending plan, a 2 percent drop from the 2024 budget. The number of full-time positions is set to rise to 2,392 positions, 110 more compared to 2024.