Since its inception, Chicago’s airport system has consistently ranked among the most active worldwide.
Chicago Midway Airport, located southwest of the city, was the busiest airport in the world in terms of passenger flow before the Jet Age and until the late 1950s. However, its runways were too short for early jet aircraft. Within a few years, all flights relocated to O’Hare, to the northwest, which already had longer runways and freshly built facilities. As a result of the relocation, O’Hare became the busiest airport in the world in 1962 and remained so for the next 25 years.
Unfortunately, the airport’s reputation for congestion skyrocketed due to the increased passenger traffic. The runway layout that attracted jet planes was doomed to failure by the city’s fickle climate. O’Hare was notoriously congested and falling in most performance rankings by the time it finally lost the title of world’s busiest airport to Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson in 1998.
The only option was a $6 billion dramatic upgrade of the runway infrastructure underway in 2005. The city claims that the airport will be completely remodeled “from curb to gate” after an extra $8.5 billion investment that will be finished in 2021 and would dramatically reduce delays).
Runways
O’Hare now has eight runways, with six running in a straight line and two on a diagonal. There used to be three sets of parallel runways overlapping each other, which increased the potential for aircraft collision and made the airport vulnerable to the effects of adverse weather.
Robert Hoxie, the chief development officer for the Chicago Department of Aviation, claims, “We now have the most capable runway network of any civilian airport in the world. We’ve reduced delays by 65%, translating to hundreds of on-time flights that weren’t before.” The process took a long time, but by 2015, things had progressed to the point where the terminal buildings could be the focus of attention.
Inquiries for massive upgrades to O’Hare Airport were initiated by American and United, both of whom have hubs there. As Hoxie puts it, “the original passenger terminals were built in the mid-1950s, and at more than 60 years old, they just don’t offer the amenities that customers desire, nor the efficiency that airlines require to operate a strong connecting hub.”
The concept eventually crystallized in 2019 as O’Hare 21, a daring proposal to update the airport for the modern era. Although the new “global” terminal, the two satellite concourses for Terminal 1, and the total makeover of the current Terminal 5 are the most visible parts of the plan, it also contains about one hundred individual projects, many of which are modest but practical enhancements like upgraded parking garages, new water mains, and power distribution systems, and rehabilitated underground pedestrian tunnels.
(image courtesy of Chicago Department of Aviation)
Improvements to the terminals that will receive the bulk of the funding would dramatically improve the travel experience for O’Hare’s customers. This is a long-term plan, with completion not expected until at least 2028; however, like the runway modernization, the city will gradually implement it in stages to improve the airport. Terminal 5 is currently renovating; however, certain portions are available to the public.
A symbol of Chicago
Over a billion dollars will be invested in extending Terminal 5’s capacity and updating its technologies. Low-cost carriers like Spirit will join traditional airlines in using the facility to transport travelers to and from Chicago. Towards the end of the fall, Delta will also relocate there. Among the improvements are the addition of 10 brand new gates, an upgraded baggage handling system, and a plethora of new security checkpoints.
(image courtesy of Chicago Department of Aviation)
In March of 2020, as the globe prepared to lockdown due to a coronavirus epidemic, work began: Although the epidemic has been detrimental to business in general, the reduced number of passengers at the airport has let employees do more in less time than they had anticipated.
Terminal 2, the oldest building in operation today, will be removed to make way for a brand new international terminal that will cost an additional $2.2 billion to build. The current setup at O’Hare necessitates travelers to change terminals if they are traveling internationally or domestically. According to Hoxie, travelers will be able to “clear US Customs, proceed to the secure area, and be only minutes walk from their leaving gate at the new Terminal 2, which will be dubbed the O’Hare Global Terminal.
Studio ORD, located in Chicago, won a competition to design the new building. Their winning entry was influenced by the Municipal Device, a city symbol. A Y-shaped emblem with its points enclosed may be seen on structures, walls, lamp posts, and bridges across Chicago; it depicts the meeting of the Chicago River’s north and south branches. The new terminal will also have the form of a Y, with a glass dome with six peaks set at the place where the two arms meet. Wooden slats will cover the roof, with the pleats facing in the direction that lets in the most sunlight.
The Global Terminal will be one of the largest in the United States, at 2.2 million square feet. It will be 75 percent larger than the current Terminal 2. It will free up space for things like maternity rooms, fitness centers, and a more comprehensive selection of food and drink. The airport plans to improve efficiency for airlines by installing a new cargo handling system with automated storage for up to 5,000 bags and rearranging its gates to accommodate both widebody and narrower planes.
Due to a lack of such adaptability in the past, O’Hare’s initial 189 gates have been decreased to its current count of 184 as the typical wingspan of airplanes has grown to conserve fuel. Total passenger terminal space will rise from the existing 5,000,000 SQ FT to 9,000,000 SQ FT after this project is completed, increasing gate capacity by 25%.
Many legal and environmental assessments must be approved before constructing the new Global Terminal. The two satellite concourses can begin, and the present airplane gates at Terminal 2 will need to be replaced before they can be decommissioned and dismantled.
(image courtesy of Chicago Department of Aviation)
Meanwhile, the Terminal 5 renovation project will press on until its expected late 2023 conclusion. Still, it will always remain open, with travelers and development workers living side by side. Hoxie compares it to house renovation, saying, “If you’ve ever done any home renovation, you know that you’ll be washing your dinner plate in the bathroom sink at some time during a kitchen makeover. This is a challenging task.”
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