O'Hare Airport breaks ground on new global concourse
Why it matters: The $1.3 billion Concourse D will be the first major concourse built at the airport since 1993.
Zoom in: The satellite concourse will be next to Terminal 1, connected to United's Concourse C by a pedestrian bridge.
It will have 19 gates and should be able to accommodate different sizes of aircraft, as well as reduce longer layovers and operational delays.
It will serve both domestic and international passengers.
What they're saying: "We are taking a critical first step toward enhancing how the airport welcomes and serves more than 80 million passengers each year," Chicago Department of Aviation's Michael McMurry said in a statement.
By the numbers: The concourse is part of the O'Hare 21 renovation project, which is the long-awaited modernization plan. United and American Airlines are footing a major part of the bill.
It is connected to Terminal 2, which is being replaced with what the city is calling the "Global Terminal." That project doesn't start until next year.
Zoom out: The expansion comes as air travel is back in a big way. O'Hare welcomed more than 8 million passengers in June, the highest June total in the airport's history.
It was also the second-busiest month ever. The top month was July 2019.
In the first half of 2025, more than 40.1 million travelers passed through O'Hare, a 6% increase over the same period last year.
What we're watching: This concourse is being built while Terminal 3 and Terminal 5 expansion projects are already underway.
What's next: The new satellite concourse is scheduled to be completed by 2028. The entire O'Hare expansion plan won't be finished until 2034.
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