O'Hare Airport breaks ground on new global concourse
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Rendering of the new O'Hare satellite concourse. Rendering: Courtesy of SOM and Norviska
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson joined airline executives Monday to cut the ribbon on construction for a new global concourse at O'Hare International Airport.
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, 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.
