Getting AroundThursday, November 12
A new report says O'Hare will feel outdated until new terminals open in 2030 and 2033
The 5AM Evanston team
If you fly out of O'Hare, a new report says it's the last of America's 25 largest airports without a new terminal in the past quarter century. DePaul's Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development released it Wednesday. Its main author, director Joe Schwieterman, joined WGN Evening News to talk it through, and says O'Hare will seem increasingly outdated until two new satellite terminals open in 2030 and a new Global Terminal in 2033. The report recommends:
- Move more flights to the underused Terminal 5
- Build parts of the terminal off-site with modular technology
- Consider boarding away from current terminals using mobile terminal technology
O'Hare's terminals span 1962 to a Global Terminal in 2033
- 1962Some parts of Terminals 2 and 3 date to 1962.
- 1993Terminal 5 was built.
- 2025Ongoing terminal construction began.
- 2030Two new satellite terminals open.
- 2033A new Global Terminal opens.
Sources: WGN-TV, Chicago Sun-Times, WBEZ Chicago
Taxi times at O'Hare lead the nation, and passengers have rated the airport lower each year in the latest JD Power survey. The Chicago Department of Aviation said the recommendations "would require detailed operational and engineering evaluation in consultation with our airline, federal and construction partners." It also said it's sequencing construction to limit impacts.
7 yearsof O'Hare terminal construction ahead
Congestion may persist over that stretch unless the city takes additional measures, the report warns.
Source: Chicago Sun-Times
Sources: WGN-TV, Chicago Sun-Times, WBEZ Chicago