Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, officials cut ribbon on O'Hare Airport Terminal 5 expansion
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Mayor Lori Lightfoot was on hand for Tuesday's grand opening of O'Hare's Terminal Five expansion. It's a whole new experience after the $1.3 billion expansion is now complete.
A light-filled, spacious new Terminal 5 has 10 new gates, making things more efficient and reducing delays, even adding 13 security checkpoints, making this expansion a bigger gateway for travelers worldwide.
"The success of our airports directly impacts the city of Chicago and the rest of our region by providing jobs and contracting opportunities as well as acting as a catalyst for roadway and other infrastructure improvements," Lightfoot said.
So what will passengers notice? Larger spaces, new furniture, and new technology, more food options and faster and more efficient screenings for customs and immigration.
A 25-year-old baggage handling system has also been replaced. Parking will be easier, too, with a new six-story parking garage, and more short and long-term parking options.
Delta will no longer be in Terminal 2; the longtime airline will have a new location and a Delta Sky Club four times bigger than the older one. And this year the terminal will feature the largest single acquisition of work by Chicago artists.
"Nineteen commissions featuring more than 20 artists that represent the breath and diversity in our city are planned across three critical sites, the international arrivals corridors the baggage claim and the passenger level concourse other pieces will be completed and unveiled throughout 2023," said Erin Harkey, Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events commissioner.
One of the busiest airports in the world is marking yet another major milestone: for the third year in a row, it's the second busiest in the country.
O'Hare saw more than 711,000 flights in 2022, an increase of 4% compared to 2019.
