5 New Gates Coming to Chicago O’Hare
Jennifer Billock February 08, 2016
Chicago travelers rejoice: O’Hare is finally adding more gates! Five more are on the way.
As part of a new deal between the city of Chicago and O’Hare International Airport (ORD), travelers heading to ORD will finally have something to ease congestion: five new gates. The gates will be in Terminal 3 as part of American Airlines’ territory at the airport.
“O’Hare airport is moving into the 21st century with the addition of these gates,” Ginger Evans, Chicago Department of Aviation Commissioner, said in a statement reported by the Chicago Tribune. “Passengers will see fewer delays, shorter taxi times and an overall improved experience when flying to or from Chicago, which is our top priority at both O’Hare and Midway airports.”
The gates are expected to be in service by 2018, bringing the gate total to 194. The last time an expansion of this level happened at O’Hare was in 1993 when Terminal 5 was built.
“These new gates, in addition to the airfield improvements announced already, signify a major investment American is making in our customers and employees at O’Hare,” Michael Minerva, vice president of government and airport affairs for American Airlines, told the Chicago Tribune. “Growing our footprint will allow us to grow our operation and better serve the Chicago community.”
Negotiations are underway to bring more gates to more carriers throughout the airport as well, and construction will begin on a new east-west runway soon. The new runway will cost about $1.3 billion and is part of a longstanding modernization project at the airport.
[Photo: Chicago O’Hare International Airport Terminal 3 via AirwaysNews]
