Chicago begins $1.3 billion concourse D construction at O’Hare Airport to boost passenger experience and growth

Mayor Brandon Johnson has joined federal, state, local and airline leaders to mark the start of construction on the new Concourse D at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD). The $1.3 billion development represents the first major milestone in O’Hare’s historic terminal expansion and is set to transform the passenger experience, strengthen Chicago’s status as a global aviation hub and prepare the airport for decades of future growth.

“To maintain Chicago’s global leadership in the 21st century, we must continue investing in O’Hare, our region’s most powerful economic engine,” said Mayor Johnson. “With construction now underway on The New Concourse D, my administration is committed to building upon the airport’s legacy by delivering modern, world-class facilities that will elevate the passenger experience at America’s best-connected hub.”

Michael McMurray, Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA), said the project marked the first phase of a new development stage within the O’Hare 21 capital programme, now branded ORDNext. “By breaking ground on Concourse D, we are taking a critical first step toward enhancing how the airport welcomes and serves more than 80 million passengers each year,” McMurray said. “We are also proud to introduce ORDNext, a new stage of development in the O’Hare 21 capital program that will elevate the passenger experience, improve connections between domestic and international flights, and increase the airport’s footprint to accommodate future growth. I’m grateful to our hub carriers for making this investment on behalf of the passengers we are proud to serve every day.”

Airline backing

The two largest hub carriers at ORD are fully behind the project.

Scott Kirby, Chief Executive Officer of United Airlines, said: “As Chicago’s hometown airline, O’Hare has long been at the centre of United’s story. Today’s groundbreaking comes amid our historic growth in this city as United is flying a record number of passengers, hiring thousands of new, local employees and providing customers with the largest and ever-expanding network from Chicago. Through the continued partnership with Mayor Johnson and Commissioner McMurray, we will work to ensure this project not only modernises O’Hare but also strengthens the airport as a global gateway connecting Chicago to the world.”

Steve Johnson, Vice Chair and Chief Strategy Officer at American Airlines, added: “American Airlines has proudly served Chicago for nearly a century. That long-standing legacy fuels our investment and growth at O’Hare and underscores our commitment to Chicago — the customers and team members who call it home, the businesses that make it move and the communities that help it thrive. We are proud to join our partners in this project as we mark a major milestone in the future of O’Hare that will keep the airport at the forefront of customer experience, operational efficiency and modern design — while revolutionising international connections and making the travel journey seamless for our customers.”

Concourse D design and facilities

Concourse D will add 19 new gates for narrow-body aircraft, with flexibility for 18 of those gates to be adapted into nine larger stands for wide-body planes. The concourse will feature more than 20,000 square feet of lounge space, 30,000 square feet of retail and food outlets, and a 450-square-foot children’s play area.

At the northern end of the 590,000-square-foot concourse will be a 40-foot-high atrium with an oculus bringing daylight into the three levels below.

Architectural design is being led by Chicago-based Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) in partnership with Ross Barney Architects, Juan Gabriel Moreno Architects and Arup. SOM partner Scott Duncan said: “From the skylit-tunnel connection to the orchard-inspired columns, the new concourse will offer bright, soaring spaces for passengers and enable world-class operations for airlines. We’re proud to be leading this bold new vision for O’Hare and to deliver such a complex project on budget for the City of Chicago.”

Wider O’Hare 21 programme

Concourse D is the first of two new satellite concourses to be developed as part of the $8.2 billion Terminal Area Plan. A second satellite, Concourse E, will provide 24 additional gates, while Terminal 2 will eventually be replaced by the new O’Hare Global Terminal. A new underground tunnel will also be constructed to link passengers, employees and baggage operations across the expanded facilities.

Work is already advancing across O’Hare. The ElevateT3 project, a $300 million investment, is modernising Terminal 3 for the first time since the 1980s. Terminal 5 has recently been expanded with a new 10-gate extension and a multi-storey parking facility. Dozens of runway and taxiway upgrades have also been completed to improve airfield safety and support future expansion.

The Johnson administration has highlighted that as of May 2025, minority and women-owned business participation across O’Hare 21 projects stands at 37 per cent. The Concourse D development and associated works are expected to generate more than 3,800 construction jobs.

Timeline and construction partners

Site preparation for Concourse D began in 2023, with temporary taxiways, a new grade-separated roadway and three temporary gates added to Concourse C to ensure smooth operations during construction. Major work began in mid-2025, including demolition of existing taxiways. Excavation will continue for six months, with vertical construction due to start in spring 2026.

The concourse is scheduled to open in late 2028. AECOM Hunt Clayco Bowa has been appointed as Construction Manager At-Risk for Concourse D and related works. Around $300 million of additional infrastructure projects are bundled into the scheme, including a new central cooling facility and utility upgrades to support Concourse E.

Mayor Johnson said the project will not only enhance facilities but also deliver benefits for Chicagoans. “This transformative investment is about more than modern terminals. It is about jobs, opportunity and ensuring O’Hare remains a driver of growth for our city and our region,” he said.

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