O’Hare airport expansion back on track

A $8.5 billion plan to modernize and enlarge Chicago’s O’Hare Airport is back on track now that the airport’s two largest users, American and United Airlines, have confirmed they are onboard with the project.

The plan calls for increasing the airport’s overall gate capacity by 25 percent and terminal capacity by 60 percent. Both United’s Terminal 1 and American’s Terminal 3 would get extensive renovations including new state of the art security screening facilities, new baggage systems and new self-service technologies all aimed at improving the traveler experience. 

In addition, a larger new international facility with new high-tech streamlined customs and immigrations processing capabilities would be built. The extra space for the new O’Hare Global Terminal would come mostly from demolishing the existing Terminal 2. The existing international terminal (5) would be renovated and expanded.

The city also plans to enhance transportation to Chicago O’Hare with a new express service from downtown that would arrive at the airport in 20 minutes or less, reducing current travel times by 50 percent.