Mayor Rahm Emanuel plans to announce Friday that major airlines have agreed to build up to nine new gates at O'Hare International Airport and continue to negotiate on a more expansive plan that could yield far more spots for passengers to get on and off planes.
Though many new runways have been built under a long-term expansion of the airport, a deal on new gates has eluded the city and airlines, with dominant air carriers United and American Airlines worried about making way for too much competition.
But more gates are crucial to improving on-time performance at O'Hare. Even with the new runways opened or under construction under the O'Hare Modernization Program that has cost about $10 billion to date, only so many flights can be handled if there aren't sufficient parking spaces for planes to load and unload passengers.
The result is that O'Hare continues to struggle with some of the longest flight delays among major U.S. airports, making an airport that's a key driver of Chicago's economy a less attractive option to both international and domestic fliers.
Up to nine gates will be added to the 25 now at Terminal 5, said Aviation Department spokesman Owen Kilmer. He added that the $300 million cost will be paid for with existing passenger facility charges — the fee tacked onto each airplane ticket.
The second part of what Emanuel wants to do is much bigger: The demolition and reconstruction of Terminal 2, at a cost of billions of dollars. But it's also murkier. Kilmer said construction details and funding "are still being discussed with our airline partners."
Terminal 2 would become the central terminal at O'Hare. Amenities in the rebuilt terminal could include a new U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility, a departure hall with additional space for TSA passenger screening, concessions and passenger amenities, city officials said.
The revamped central terminal also could include new concourses to be constructed to the west as airline passenger demand grows.
"This is an important step forward in our ongoing work to ensure that O'Hare serves as the economic engine for the people of Chicago and an international gateway for travelers around the world," Emanuel said in a statement. "From adding more gates and improving the international terminal to constructing the most efficient runway system in the country, we are ensuring that O'Hare continues to be an economic driver for the city of Chicago long into the future."
Space is being made for the terminal expansion through the demolition of old structures and runways in a $1.3 billion project to add a sixth east-west runway the mayor announced in late January. That project also includes new taxiways and de-icing pads. In addition, there are plans to build two new hotels at the airport.
When that work was announced, Emanuel and Aviation Commissioner Ginger Evans conceded that new gates would be crucial but were not part of that plan. But they contended that the removal of old runways and structures that was part of the plan laid the groundwork to make a deal on new gates.
The Emanuel administration's news release also contained quotes attributed to United and American executives that bowed to the need for more negotiation on the Terminal 2 reconstruction.
"We support the city's effort to expand Terminal 5 and will continue working with our partners to develop the long term vision for O'Hare," said Oscar Munoz, United's president and CEO.
Added American chairman and CEO Doug Parker: "Over the next 18 months, before the expiration of our current lease, American Airlines will continue to work with the City of Chicago to propel the customer experience at O'Hare into the future."
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