Chicago O’Hare airport: major construction after key airline approval

Chicago O'Hare International airport is ending a significant year, one in which it finalised an agreement to embark on a USD8.5 billion expansion plan that will help the airport remain competitive and satisfy the needs of its two largest airlines - United and American.

United's recent rebanking of O'Hare has produced favourable results for the airline, as it works to recapture some lost domestic market share. The airport is a key mid-continent hub for United, and is the airline's largest base measured by departing frequencies.

Even as costs are set to rise at O'Hare, growth from airlines operating at the airport continues unabated. United and American, in particular, are making a push to shore up their connectivity at the airport, which remains at the top in the US for domestic connectivity, according to CAPA partner OAG.

Given the strategic role O'Hare plays in the networks of its largest operators, they seem willing to accept the trade-off of higher costs in order to maximise efficiency at the airport.