Today, Mayor Brandon Johnson stood with state, federal, and airline leaders to announce what will soon become Concourse D at O’Hare International Airport, known as one of the world’s busiest airports. The $1.3 billion project is being billed as the first big step in a sweeping reimagining of O’Hare, a place many Chicagoans know as both a point of pride and a test of patience. City officials say the expansion will ease connections for millions of travelers each year while fueling jobs and investment back home. “To keep Chicago at the center of global travel, we have to keep investing in O’Hare,” Johnson told the crowd. “This concourse is just the start. We’re building spaces that match the world-class reputation of this city and give passengers an experience they can feel good about.”
The new concourse is expected to open in 2028 with 19 gates, most for narrow-body planes but with the option to combine them for larger aircraft. Plans call for lounges, new dining and retail, and even a children’s play area — the sort of small detail that weary parents might appreciate more than the architectural flourish. Design work is being led by Chicago-based Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, with local firms Ross Barney Architects and JGMA also on the team. Renderings show tall atrium spaces and tree-like support columns meant to nod to the orchard that once grew on the site.
Michael McMurray, the city’s aviation commissioner, described the project as the launch of “ORDNext,” a new stage in the airport’s $8.2 billion Terminal Area Plan. “This will help passengers move more easily between domestic and international flights, and it sets us up for decades of growth,” he said. But he also stressed the balancing act: keeping costs under control and keeping the airport running smoothly while major construction unfolds.
Airline leaders framed the investment as part of Chicago’s story as United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby pointed to record passenger traffic and hiring in the city, while American Airlines executive Steve Johnson leaned on history, saying the carrier’s roots in Chicago go back nearly a century. Both pledged to keep O’Hare competitive as a global hub.
Beyond the glass and steel, city officials emphasized jobs. More than 3,800 construction roles are expected, with a 37 percent participation rate for minority- and women-owned businesses reported this spring. For many Chicago families, that could mean steady work tied to one of the city’s biggest employers.
Preparation for Concourse D has been underway for nearly two years, including new taxiways and temporary gates. Heavy excavation begins later this year, with vertical construction slated for spring 2026. And this is only part of the bigger picture: a second new concourse, a new global terminal, and an underground tunnel to link it all together. Taken as a whole, O’Hare is being reshaped for the next century of air travel, though for most Chicagoans, the real measure will be whether the upgrades make travel smoother than the last time they hustled through a crowded terminal.
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