O’Hare Construction Could Prolong Crowding and Long Taxi Times

O’Hare’s terminal upgrades have moved more slowly than projects at other prominent U.S. airports, and construction could make the airport more difficult for passengers to navigate over the next several years, a DePaul University policy brief says. Among the country’s 25 busiest airports, O’Hare is the only one that has not added a major terminal or concourse, or carried out a complete overhaul of one, in the past 25 years. Parts of Terminals 2 and 3 date to 1962.

The brief says O’Hare shares the lowest customer-satisfaction rating with another airport in the U.S. mega-hub category. Its analysis also found that average outbound taxi times rose from 22 minutes in 2023 to 28 minutes in 2026. At the 30 busiest airports, the average increased by about a minute and a half over the same period, reaching 20 minutes.

Construction began in 2025. Planned additions include Satellite Concourse 1, expected to open with 19 gates in 2028, and the first phase of Satellite Concourse 2, with 14 gates, in 2030. The Global Terminal is scheduled for 2033, with the final 10 gates of Satellite Concourse 2 due in 2034.

The brief suggests moving more flights to Terminal 5, building components off-site and using mobile terminals to board passengers away from the existing terminals. The Chicago Department of Aviation said such proposals would need detailed operational and engineering review with its partners. It said construction is being sequenced to limit passenger impacts and address taxi times.