United Is Getting Rid of ALL Moving Walkways at O’Hare
Jennifer Billock September 22, 2015
United Airlines guests will no longer have the option of using moving walkways at O’Hare International Airport.
United Airlines is home to one of the busiest parts of O’Hare International Airport in Chicago, Concourse C in Terminal 1. Twenty years ago, the airline installed eight moving walkways in the terminal to help travelers get to their gate quicker and without lugging their baggage behind them. Now, those walkways are getting removed.
Luke Punzenberger, a United spokesman, told the Chicago Tribune that removing the walkways “will make it easier for customers to move both lengthwise and across the width of the concourse,” and that currently, they “inhibit passenger flow.”
Four of the walkways are already closed, and by spring, the remainder will close and all will be removed.
The effectiveness of the walkways in United’s terminal has been a long-held debate. Some customers love them — after a tiring time carrying their bags through O’Hare’s extensive footprint, it’s a nice respite. Others are not huge fans, saying the walkways cause backups and congestion, are usually too crowded, and tend to be broken.
According to the comments on NBC’s article about the topic, though, many travelers are unhappy about the change, citing everything from bad feet to senior citizens to the sheer size of the airport as reasons for needing those walkways. For a concourse with more than 30 gates, some are saying those walkways are absolutely needed.
Luckily for everyone, the moving walkway connecting Concourses C and B will remain in that 850-foot connecting tunnel.
[Photo: Phil Velasquez/Chicago Tribune]
Ooooh more changes we'll love! Thanks United!
Sure hope they invest in golf cart style transport or some other type or this,will be another nail in unites coffin and another black eye of o'hara For the traveling public who needs assistance or just fed up with the long distances changing planes.
Great idea. Will greatly assist traffic flow to remove them. So many travellers have roll aboards, or like me are quite comfy carrying a backpack.
Glad they're keeping them in the "intestine," though, that's a decent hike.
Moving walkways are fine, it's the people on them that are the problem. Stay to the right, except when passing, and remain single file, people!