The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) has opened the eastern extension of O’Hare International Airport’s (ORD) Terminal 5, increasing the terminal’s capacity by 25%.
This marks a major milestone in the 1.3 billion USD investment to expand and modernise the airport.
The L-shaped East Concourse extension has 10 new wide-body gates, nine of which use multiple aircraft ramp systems that can accommodate larger, wide-body aircraft.
Additional landside improvements will now include re-striping airport roadways to rebalance lane capacity and an expansion of the curbside area.
In June 2022, crews also broke ground on a new, six-story parking garage at Terminal 5, which will more than double the amount of parking.
Chicago Mayor Lightfoot said:O’Hare is a significant economic engine for our entire region and the first impression of Chicago for millions of visitors every year. That's why we are especially proud to cut the ribbon to this expanded, modernised Terminal 5, which represents a major milestone in O’Hare’s curb-to-gate transformation into one of the great airports of the 21st century under the O’Hare 21 capital improvement programme.
Crews broke ground on the modernisation of Terminal 5 in 2019, with construction led by Austin Power Partners.
This project is part of the O’Hare 21 capital improvement project that aims to transform the airport into a modern global hub.
CDA Commissioner Jamie L. Rhee said:With new gates, increased passenger amenities, a more efficient baggage handling system, and expanded security checkpoints and customs facilities, the state-of-the-art Terminal 5 of today is equipped to handle the growing demand we expect O’Hare to see in the coming years while offering an improved passenger experience. These crucial infrastructure investments will ensure that O’Hare maintains the capacity it needs to move forward with other O’Hare 21 work with minimal impact to operations.
