Quantcast

O'Hare 21 modernization project set to transform airport by 2028

Qantas launches mammoth Asia flight sale including Bali and Japan
New Update from Air Canada, WestJet, American Airlines, Delta, United, Southwest, Alaska, JetBlue Airways, and Sunwing: Airline Capacity Between Canada and US Slashed as Bookings Plummet Seventy Per Cent
Delta Cuts Two Domestic Routes
United Airlines Technicians Reject ‘Dead on Arrival’ Contract Proposal, Teamsters Say
The State of the Asia Pacific Airline Industry
Spirit Airlines to add Detroit nonstop flight out of Bradley International Airport
Major airline to launch new direct flights from Scotland to North America
Ryanair launches new ‘prime’ membership which saves passengers more than £400 a year
Judge Orders Boeing to Trial on 737 MAX Case
Qantas’ free international Wi-Fi to switch on from next week
The real reason Southwest is charging for bags now
Air France-KLM in ongoing talks with Air Europa on potential stake, CEO says
Frontier Savagely Shades Southwest After They Eliminated Longstanding Free Bag Policy, Sparking Backlash
Frontier Wants You to 'Divorce Your Old Airline' After Southwest Changes
Delta named one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies for sustainability initiatives
Passengers escape fiery American Airlines jet in Denver
Delta, American Dive On Slashed Outlooks; But Two Airlines Rally
Competitors are circling Southwest after the airline announced it's going to start charging for checked bags
Exclusive: Dominican Low-Cost Carrier Arajet Wants to Disrupt NYC Market
Boeing deliveries rise 63% in February from a year earlier
Transportation Secretary Duffy Lays Out 10 Ways the FAA Is Working to Upgrade Air Traffic Control and Make Flying Safer
EasyJet pilot Paul Elsworth suspended after flying too close to mountain
Delta Air Lines bets on ‘blended-wing’ flight to reduce emissions
Europe's airlines pivot to bite size M&A deals to limit cost, regulatory burden
Dave Emerson named new CEO of Virgin Australia, replacing Jayne Hrdlicka
Ryanair DELAYS controversial new boarding pass rule to avoid summer chaos
FAA Orders Inspection, Replacement of 737NG Engine Parts
Spirit Adds New Airport, Three Routes
Delta crash passengers should take the $30,000 payment, their lawyers say. Here’s why.
Budget airline launches new cheap flights to one of the UK’s top winter sun destinations
O'Hare 21 modernization project set to transform airport by 2028
Airports
Ohare
Chicago O'Hare International Airport | Chicago O'Hare International Airport/Facebook

O’Hare International Airport is in the midst of a multi-year capital improvement project that will see upgrades to infrastructure and passenger services, culminating with a $2.2 billion Global Terminal slated to break ground in 2026. 

Dubbed O’Hare 21 (ORD 21), the upgrades—which were initially expected to cost $8.5 billion but have since increased to $12.1 billion—are fully funded through revenue generated from agreements with airline partners, with no taxpayer dollars involved, according to the website. 

The project's three key initiatives include the "Terminal 5 Expansion and Modernization," the construction of two satellite concourses and the O'Hare Global Terminal (part of the Terminal Area Plan), along with the completion of Runway 9C-27C. 

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

ORD 21 kicked off in 2019 with a runway project that was completed in 2020.

By summer of 2022 seven new gates opened as part of an addition to the East Concourse. In October 2022 10 more gates opened in the West Concourse. 

In November 2022, the Federal Aviation Administration approved the multi-billion dollar construction of a new passenger terminal at Chicago O'Hare International Airport—a key component of ORD21.

That announcement came via U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and then Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot. 

The expansion, known as the Terminal Area Plan, is focused on the western side of the airport. 

Construction was slated to begin in spring 2023, with the new terminal expected to enhance the airport’s global connectivity and infrastructure.

Initial phases includes two new satellite concourses, set to open in 2027 and 2028, significantly increasing O'Hare's capacity to accommodate larger aircraft and handle more passengers.

The near-term gate improvement projects, including the Terminal 5 Expansion Project, were completed in 2023. This major overhaul, which increased capacity by 25%, added 10 new gates, expanded passenger amenities and reconfigured customs and security checkpoints to improve efficiency and reduce delays. 

The project also included a complete replacement of the baggage handling system, which doubled the terminal's baggage screening capacity and added flexibility for future demand. Additionally, new concessions were introduced. 

By July 2023, construction on the major O'Hare 21 project was well underway, marking a significant step in Chicago O'Hare International Airport's multi-phase infrastructure overhaul. 

“O'Hare 21 really is a generational capital investment in O'Hare's facilities that will take approximately 15 years to put in place,” City of Chicago Department of Aviation Chief Development Officer Robert Hoxie said at the time, according to Aviation Pros. “The purpose of the program is to transform O'Hare and give it terminal facilities primarily that are fit for purpose for the 21st century.”

In April 2024 construction officially begun on a $300 million project to modernize Terminal 3 at O'Hare International Airport, with the upgrade slated for completion in 2027. The project, partially funded by $90 million in federal grants, was aimed at enhancing the terminal’s infrastructure and passenger amenities. 

In Mat 2024 architectural renderings for the new Satellite Concourse 1 were unveiled, produced by renowned Chicago-based architects, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, Ross Barney Architects, Juan Gabriel Moreno Architects, and engineering firm Arup. That concourse, which will serve as a major expansion to O'Hare’s existing terminal facilities, is expected to be finished in 2028. 

In 2026 construction on the O’Hare Global Terminal is expected to begin. 

The $2.2 billion O'Hare Global Terminal is set to be one of the largest and most advanced airport facilities in the U.S. 

The new terminal will more than double the space of the existing Terminal 2. The terminal is expected to be constructed without reducing gate capacity, with two new satellite concourses.

Organizations Included in this History
More News

London Heathrow, recognized as Europe's busiest airport, will soon experience an increase in its flight offerings by Oman Air.

Sep 2, 2025

Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport will commence safety and airfield improvement projects on Runway 12R-30L in two distinct phases throughout 2025.

Aug 22, 2025

Delta Air Lines is adjusting its service between Atlanta and Anchorage, extending flights beyond the summer travel season to a year-round offering.

May 15, 2025

UNI Global Union's U.S. affiliate, SEIU, is staging protests across the country against the detention of immigrant workers, including SEIU members.

Apr 18, 2025

An international delegation was barred from entering an Elanders/Bergen Logistics distribution center in New Jersey.

Apr 18, 2025

UNI Global Union affiliate, Communication Workers’ Union of Kenya (COWU Kenya), and Teleperformance have reached a local implementation agreement in Kenya.

Apr 18, 2025