Crain's Chicago Business — "Chicago is Right to Keep O'Hare Revamp on Track"
“The current slowdown, dramatic as it may be, doesn’t change the case for expanding O’Hare terminals. Recent runway improvements and expansions gave O’Hare badly needed tarmac space. But bottlenecks persist, thanks to shortages of gate capacity, cramped concourses and a convoluted layout that puts international travelers bound for connecting flights on a forced march between terminals to reach connecting domestic flights. And as O’Hare aged, other airports invested in the capabilities and amenities international travelers have come to expect. O’Hare trails five other U.S. airports in international traffic.
The terminal expansion would vault O’Hare over competing airports, opening the door to growth and vastly improving the airport experience. Dozens of new gates would reduce delays, give passengers more flight options and spur airline price competition by allowing more carriers to serve the airport. Adding 3 million square feet of terminal space would ease crowding, while a new “global alliance hub” enables international code-sharing partners to use the same terminal.
With an eye-catching design by Chicago architect Jeanne Gang and cutting-edge technologies on par with next-generation airports popping up around the world, the new terminal would bring O’Hare up to 21st-century standards. A world-class airport, in turn, will cement Chicago’s status as a world-class city.”
