American Airlines' late opposition unlikely to halt O'Hare expansion plan
CHICAGO - Brian Bourke has spent a lot of time at O'Hare International Airport while racking up more than 100,000 miles of travel a year, mostly on business trips for an Itasca, Ill.-based logistics company.
His reaction upon hearing the city of Chicago's plans for the biggest expansion in the airport's 73-year history and the first major capital improvements to its terminals in more than 25 years: "It's about time."
The response was nearly universal among air travelers and aviation experts. Since the city formally unveiled its $8.5 billion expansion plans this week, only one of O'Hare's carriers, American Airlines, has voiced opposition to the deal, alleging Chicago-based rival United Airlines cut a secret deal to get five more of the new gates that would be added, which United denied.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel has vowed to move forward, and airline industry experts said it's difficult to imagine O'Hare's second-biggest carrier walking away from a key hub or blocking
