Buttigieg, Lightfoot and Chicago leaders announced about 11:30 a.m. that, after a Federal Aviation Administration environmental review, construction can now start on new passenger terminals at O'Hare.
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Officials highlighted how the rebuild of O'Hare's major terminals will improve passenger experience with updated facilities and amenities, provide more gate flexibility, reduce wait times, reduce taxiing time and improve domestic and international connections.
WATCH: Busy Thanksgiving travel week begins
Busy Thanksgiving travel week begins
"Today's news from the FAA gives us a clear path forward to start construction on the Terminal Area Plan which includes Satellite Concourses 1 and 2 and the O'Hare Global Terminal, the centerpieces of the capital improvement program we call O'Hare 21," said Commissioner Jamie L. Rhee of the CDA, which owns and operates
both O'Hare and Midway International Airports.
The FAA's decision clears the way for construction to begin on the satellite concourses and related airfield work when the ground thaws this spring. The current construction timeline calls for the first satellite concourse to be completed in 2027 and the second satellite concourse to reach completion in 2028, the mayor's office said.
Demolition of Terminal 2, the airport's oldest passenger facility, will occur in phases. The work is scheduled to begin in 2026, with a target completion date of 2030 for construction of the O'Hare Global Terminal. Construction of a large tunnel connecting passengers, baggage and utilities between the O'Hare Global Terminal and the satellite concourses is anticipated to begin in 2024 with a construction completion date of 2030, Lightfoot's office said.
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Buttigieg is in Chicago to highlight infrastructure investments and visit with O'Hare workers before touring and holding a town hall with students at the Aviation Institute of Maintenance.
Construction can start on new O'Hare terminals: Lightfoot, Buttigieg