United all the way back in flights from O'Hare

Concession talks proceed slowly

The day United Airlines has been awaiting arrives on Friday.

That's when the world's second-largest carrier restores its service at O'Hare International Airport to the levels it was operating prior to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11.

Despite the slow recovery from the attacks, the O'Hare service restoration is vital to the airline's resumption of expanded flight schedules at its four other U.S. hubs.

"We have to protect what is really important to United, and Chicago is important to whatever we do," said Rono Dutta, the airline's president, alluding to competitive pressures from American Airlines and from carriers based at Midway Airport.

For United, the service restoration, which is geared toward its business customers, and securing wage concessions from its employees are the keys to a return to profitability.

"O'Hare is the linchpin of their entire system," said Ray Neidl, an independent Wall Street analyst, noting United has been losing market share to its Chicago competitors.

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