American, Chicago officials sign deal for new gates at O’Hare

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and American Airlines have signed a deal for building five new gates at Chicago O’Hare International Airport. The new pact has come only few days after a new deal was signed for building a new runway at the airport. Media reports said that the new runway would be massive and would be the second biggest at the airport. The runway is estimated to come up at a cost of $1.3 billion, and would be 200 feet wide and 11,245 feet long.

The airfield at Chicago O’Hare is considered to be somewhat outmoded and increasingly crowded. American Airlines has under the deal agreed to shoulder the cost of adding five new gates to the airport’s Concourse L in Terminal 3 by 2018. The new additions are expected to significantly boost the airport’s capacity and help improve its on-time performance as well. The total number of gates at the airport will now be increased to 194 from the existing 189. This will also be the first net increase in the number of gates ever since the international Terminal 5 was opened in 1993.

Leslie Scott, Spokeswoman of American Airlines, said, “The new gates would be primarily used for regional jets operated by American Airlines that have a carrying capacity of about 76 passengers. It is however yet to be decided whether the airline would be using the gates for adding a new service or for relieving overcrowding being presently witnessed at its existing 66 gates. One thing though is absolutely clear that the airline wants to further grow in Chicago.”

American Airlines has also made it clear that it won’t allow the new gates to be used by its archrival Chicago-based United Airlines, or LCCs such as Spirit Airlines, JetBlue Airways and Virgin America, or even other upstart airlines. The city officials have however tried to reassure American Airlines, but at the same time said that talks are currently underway with other airlines and efforts would be made to provide them as many gates whenever needed.

The current O’Hare Modernization Program envisages addition of a sixth new east/west runway, in addition to a new taxiway and central plane de-icing facility for boosting ground performance.