US: Gate dispute clouds expansion plan for Chicago's O'Hare Airport

A new $8.5b plan to expand Chicago’s O‘Hare International Airport ran into turbulence on Wednesday due to a gate dispute involving the airport’s two biggest carriers. But Mayor Rahm Emanuel vowed to move ahead with the project despite opposition from American Airlines. That airline said it cannot sign a new lease needed for the project, citing a provision that gives United Airlines five out of eight gates that all parties had agreed to designate for common use as late as Feb. 8. “United’s last-minute secret deal with the city raises a number of questions and undermines competition and consumer choice,” American said. “We encourage city leaders to fix the lease and ensure competition remains vibrant at O’Hare.” United called American’s claim “disingenuous” and countered that a deal with the city for five additional gates was reached in 2016. “Our agreement with the city for five additional gates was made more than 18 months ago in response to American’s deal with city for five additional gates,” United said. “American has been aware of our agreement for over a year and has worked to block the implementation at every opportunity.” O‘Hare is the world’s second-busiest airport in terms of take-offs and landings after Atlanta’s Hartsfield–Jackson International Airport, according to an Airports Council International 2016 ranking. American Airlines carriers accounted for 35.5% of passengers at O‘Hare in 2016, versus 44.5% for United carriers, according to city data. The eight-year expansion plan calls for replacing one of O‘Hare’s existing terminals with a new global terminal, where United and American would be relocated. Other terminals would be renovated to expand gate capacity. Construction is scheduled to begin next year.<br/>