O'Hare International Airport Fast-Tracks Concourse E Construction to Accelerate Global Terminal Project
The Chicago Department of Aviation has announced plans to fast-track the construction of Concourse E at O'Hare International Airport, with groundbreaking scheduled for later this year. This decision aims to accelerate the $8.8 billion ORDNext mega-project, which includes the development of a new Global Terminal. The first phase of Concourse E will add 14 gates. This updated schedule supersedes a 2024 compromise that prioritized the construction of satellite Concourse D and a phased approach to the global terminal, followed by Concourse E. The move has received approval from major airlines American and United, who had previously advocated for prioritizing the global terminal. Mayor Brandon Johnson stated that moving forward with Concourse E now will add needed gates, maintain the modernization momentum, and create a clear path to deliver the O’Hare Global Terminal as quickly as possible. Construction on the Global Terminal itself is now expected to commence in 2029, replacing the existing Terminal 2. 
