Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson announced Thursday that the city plans to break ground later this year on the first phase of Concourse E at O’Hare International Airport, continuing the historic expansion of the nation’s busiest airport for connecting flights.
The first phase of the New Concourse E will add 14 new gates, with the complete concourse eventually featuring 24 gates designed for domestic flights and pre-clearance service to nations like Canada. The first 14 gates are expected to be completed by 2030, while the full 24-gate facility is scheduled for completion by 2034, according to the Chicago Department of Aviation.
Concourse E is part of ORDNext, the next phase of O’Hare’s $8.2 billion Terminal Area Plan launched in 2018. This broader modernization initiative also includes Concourse D, which broke ground in August 2025 and is scheduled to open in late 2028 with 19 gates, along with a new underground tunnel connecting the expanded facilities and the O’Hare Global Terminal, which will replace Terminal 2.
The capacity created by Concourse E’s first phase will support construction of the O’Hare Global Terminal, which is expected to begin in 2029 and complete in 2033. This sequencing allows the airport to add critical gate capacity while preparing for the centerpiece of the modernization effort.
Johnson said in a statement that the city is “not waiting to build the O’Hare our residents, businesses and visitors will need for the next generation.” The mayor emphasized that by moving forward with Concourse E this year, Chicago is “adding gates where they are needed, keeping this historic modernization moving, and creating a clear path to deliver the O’Hare Global Terminal, the centerpiece of ORDNext, as quickly as possible.”
The announcement comes as O’Hare continues to handle over 80 million passengers annually. The expansion projects are designed to strengthen Chicago’s position as a global aviation hub and accommodate future growth in passenger traffic and airline operations.
Sources
- WGN-TV — announcement by Department of Aviation and Mayor Johnson on Concourse E groundbreaking plans, first-phase gate count, and completion timelines
- City of Chicago — official press release on Concourse D groundbreaking (August 2025), ORDNext program details, Terminal Area Plan investment total, and related infrastructure projects
