From cabdrivers to concession cashiers, workers supported by Chicago's airports wonder when — or if — they'll go back. 'I don't see a future.'

CHICAGO - Like many cab companies, Peace Taxi Association gets most of its business taking travelers to and from Chicago's airports.

Or at least it used to. Before the coronavirus pandemic decimated air travel, owner Ali Poorian would have about 70 to 80 taxis on the road. Now, he's down to seven or eight. Sometimes, drivers wait hours for a single passenger, he said.

The taxi industry was already having a tough time competing with ride-share companies like Uber and Lyft. The COVID-19 pandemic brought a whole new level of pain.

"Our life was already miserable, and with this situation, it's become more miserable. I don't see a future," he said.

In normal times, Chicago's airports are reliable, year-round economic engines for the city. More than 105 million passengers traveled through O'Hare International Airport and Midway Airport last year, and the city is pumping $8.5 billion into an expansion project at O'Hare that will help it attract even more.

Those millions of travelers bring more than tourism dollars and business for airlines. They support an entire network of businesses around Chicago's airports, from catering companies