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Mayor Brandon Johnson, Chicago Department of Aviation to Break Ground on First Phase of the New Concourse E At O'Hare Later This Year

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CHICAGO — Mayor Brandon Johnson and Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) Commissioner Mike McMurray today announced that the City of Chicago will break ground later this year on the first phase of The New Concourse E at O'Hare International Airport, advancing the next major stage of the $8.8 billion ORDNext modernization program and creating the capacity needed to accelerate construction of the O'Hare Global Terminal.

"Chicago is not waiting to build the O'Hare our residents, businesses and visitors will need for the next generation," said Mayor Brandon Johnson. "By moving forward with New Concourse E this year, we are adding gates where they are needed, keeping this historic modernization moving, and creating a clear path to deliver the O'Hare Global Terminal, the centerpiece of ORDNext, as quickly as possible. We are demonstrating that Chicago can build boldly while protecting the interests of our airline partners, passengers and the people of this city."

The first phase of the New Concourse E will add 14 new gates and provide the capacity needed to support the construction of the O'Hare Global Terminal in a single, coordinated phase beginning in 2029, with completion scheduled for 2033. Following completion of the Global Terminal, a second phase of New Concourse E will add 10 additional gates, bringing the concourse to 24 total gates by 2034.

"Starting on The New Concourse E now is about staying ahead of O'Hare's growth instead of reacting to it later," said CDA Commissioner Mike McMurray. "These first 14 gates give us the flexibility to maintain safe, efficient airline operations while we undertake the most consequential pieces of ORDNext. Just as importantly, this sequencing positions us to deliver the O'Hare Global Terminal in a more efficient, coordinated and fiscally responsible way, before completing the remaining 10 new Concourse E gates."

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The revised project phasing was developed in coordination with O'Hare's hub carriers, including United Airlines, the city's hometown airline, and American Airlines. This refreshed timeline allows the Global Terminal to be completed more quickly and adds additional square footage and additional gates to the terminal's design. Construction on the New Concourse D remains on schedule to complete 19 new gates in late 2028.

"United has long supported a plan that modernizes O'Hare and keeps pace with the airport's growth," said United's Vice President of ORD Omar Idris. "As Chicago's hometown airline, we're pleased to see a path forward that brings new capacity online sooner, maintains efficient airport operations throughout construction and beyond and enhances the experience for the millions of customers who travel through Chicago each year."

"As we celebrate 100 years in Chicago, we're proud to invest in the next century at O'Hare and an even stronger future for our customers, team members and the Chicagoland communities we serve," said American Airlines Vice President of Corporate Real Estate Amanda Zhang. "At the center of ORDNext is the O'Hare Global Terminal (OGT), a landmark project that will transform operations, redefine the customer experience and solidify O'Hare as a leading global gateway. Advancing OGT efficiently, responsibly and as quickly as possible is a shared priority and we thank the City of Chicago and the CDA for their valued partnership. Through targeted investments and the dedication of our 10,000 Chicago-based team members, more customers are choosing American and we look forward to building on that momentum as we help shape O'Hare's next chapter."

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Today's announcement follows a series of major milestones for ORDNext. In June, the City finalized a Guaranteed Maximum Price for The New Concourse D and related infrastructure that came in at least $21 million below the approved budget, providing cost certainty for O'Hare's airline partners. Construction of Concourse D, which broke ground a year ago, is progressing on schedule, with the steel frame of the new facility beginning to rise above the airfield.

At the same time, demand at O'Hare continues to grow. This summer, the airport is handling nearly 100 more daily departures than in July 2025, while both hub carriers have significantly expanded their operations.

The phased approach aligns project spending with the airport's capacity needs while preserving the approved ORDNext budget and prioritizing delivery of the O'Hare Global Terminal. Under the revised sequence, Concourse D will be completed in 2028, the first 14 gates of Concourse E in 2030, the O'Hare Global Terminal in 2033 and the final 10 gates of Concourse E in 2034.

When fully complete in 2034, The New Concourse E will be a multilevel facility totaling approximately 460,000 square feet, located west of The New Concourse D. Its gates will be designed to accommodate a mix of regional and narrowbody aircraft serving domestic and preclearance international flights.

The concourse will feature airline lounges, passenger amenities and new dining and retail opportunities. It will connect directly to The New Concourse D and the O'Hare Global Terminal through an underground passenger tunnel, creating a more seamless journey through O'Hare's expanded terminal complex.

The New Concourse E is a key component of ORDNext, the next phase of O'Hare's historic modernization. Together, the program's new concourses and the O'Hare Global Terminal are expected to deliver 14 percent more gate capacity, greater flexibility for O'Hare's hub carriers, expanded lounges and passenger amenities, and more efficient aircraft movement across the airfield. The City of Chicago continues to collaborate closely with its airline and federal partners to sustain efficient terminal and airfield operations, ensure the smooth flow of daily activity, and uphold a high standard of passenger experience.

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