Business
Chicago Aviation Commissioner Looks Ahead as Airport Expansion Plans Take Off
Love them or hate them, Chicago’s O’Hare and Midway airports operate around the clock to keep people and goods moving around the globe. Managing it all, from the runways to the restaurants, is the city’s Department of Aviation.
With this constant movement comes constant challenges. The airports that have served Chicago for decades need to upgrade services for the future, while still meeting the needs of today’s passengers.
Last year, O’Hare broke ground on Concourse D, its first new concourse in more than 30 years. And that’s just one part of the $8.8 billion expansion plan at the airport.
Meanwhile, the Federal Aviation Administration announced this spring it would cut around 300 daily flights from O’Hare this summer. Still, that airport is expected to break records this holiday weekend, while Midway continues its upward trajectory of passengers.
Chicago’s Department of Aviation Commissioner Michael McMurray joined “Chicago Tonight” to discuss his first year in the role, O’Hare expansion plans and more.
On his first year in the role:
“I have a background in government — in aviation and procurement — as well as a background in construction in the private sector. So (I bring) a strong understanding of how these fields align, and what good collaboration looks like between the public sector and private sector.”
“This is a business of collaboration, and I’ve received all the support that I need from the mayor’s office and our airline partners — both at O’Hare and Midway Airports. … We all understand how critical O’Hare is to the national aviation system. And we all understand how important it is to continue to invest in our airport system.”
On O’Hare expansion plans:
“Right now at O’Hare, we have our capital improvement project going on. That’s ORD Next, the $8.8 billion capital improvement program, which consists of two new concourses and a global terminal, which is the centerpiece of the program itself.”
“The construction project launched last summer. We broke ground on our Concourse D this past fall, and that Concourse D is $1.4 billion. It consists of 590,000 square feet, 19 new gates, more comfortable and modern spaces for passengers, greater flexibility across aircraft types. It’s about smoother connections between domestic and international flights, particularly for our hub carriers.”
“Our airline partners (are paying for it). … At O’Hare and Midway, we’re very grateful for the investments that both of our major airlines, American and United — our hometown airline — have continued to make at our airport there, and over the years. And at Midway, it’s Southwest Airlines.”
On FAA cuts to service:
“First and foremost, the restriction on flights, … they’re temporary, and they only last through October of this year. And they still allow for growth when you look at last summer, compared to this summer.”
“The Department of Aviation feels that we are able to efficiently, and safely, operate the airfield without any artificial restrictions or limitations on the market. At the end of the day, all parties agree that O’Hare is so critical to the national aviation system that it deserves the highest levels of air traffic controllers, training procedures and infrastructure needed to make sure that we continue to grow.”
