Duckworth, Durbin Release Statement Applauding Resequencing of Chicago O’Hare Airport Terminal Area Project

Duckworth, Durbin Release Statement Applauding Resequencing of Chicago O'Hare Airport Terminal Area Project

Duckworth and Durbin have called on United Airlines and American Airlines to allow the simultaneous construction of Concourses D and E of the Chicago O'Hare Airport Terminal Area Project since early 2024

[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement regarding the resequencing of constructing satellite terminals as part of the Chicago O'Hare International Airport Terminal Area Project (TAP).

Today, the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) announced that TAP will be resequenced to build the first phase of the Concourse E during Concourse D construction. Concourse E will house the majority of the additional 25 percent capacity. While construction of Concourse D is currently underway, construction of Concourse E will now begin later this year, and the construction of the second phase of Concourse E will occur after construction of the Global Terminal. Under a previous plan negotiated in May 2024, Concourse D and the Global Terminal would have been constructed first, wholly delaying construction of Concourse E, despite the need to expand terminal capacity quickly to match O'Hare's status as the world's busiest airport:

"From the beginning, we've advocated for a plan that allowed Concourses D and E to be constructed together early in the project-a plan that would prioritize O'Hare's growth on a steady but practical timeline. Today's announcement means that we can see that growth sooner rather than later.

"Now that United and American Airlines are on board with constructing this important terminal earlier, we're eager to move forward with TAP by following the plan that preserves O'Hare's world-class status and modernizes its terminals to meet the demand of travelers well into the future."

The O'Hare TAP will significantly expand O'Hare's gate capacity, offering the first "global alliance hub" where domestic airlines and their international partners will be located in the same terminal. TAP also includes plans for two satellite terminals that are essential for continuous growth and modernization at the airport. Collectively, TAP will help expand O'Hare's gate capacity by 25 percent, enabling the airport to accommodate a wider range of aircraft, improve gate access for arriving aircraft, reduce delays, enhance airline performance, and significantly improve the passenger experience.

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