A sneak peek at the new satellite concourse at Chicago O'Hare as construction progresses

While it’s still four years until completion, travelers recently received a preview of what Satellite Concourse 1 at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (ORD) will look like in 2028, coinciding with the airport's expansion and modernization efforts.

Satellite Concourse 1 will introduce 19 additional gates to Concourse C, marking the third of four major milestones in the airport's ongoing modernization initiative. Plans also include the development of a second satellite concourse.

O'Hare International Airport ranks as the third-busiest airport in the nation. The O'Hare 21 Terminal Area Plan, launched in 2018, aims to expand and modernize the airport. This extensive renovation will involve constructing two satellite concourses, a new O'Hare Global Terminal (which will eventually replace Terminal 2), and an underground tunnel linking the new facilities.

In 2020, a significant milestone of the O'Hare 21 project was achieved with the introduction of Runway 9C-27C, a new airstrip stretching 2.13 miles and 200 feet wide. This runway marked the last new addition in a 16-year, $6 billion endeavor known as the O'Hare Modernization Program, led by the Chicago Department of Aviation. The construction of Runway 9C-27C amounted to $1 billion, financed through federal airport improvement grants and bonds backed by airlines, according to the CDA.

The CDA, along with a consortium of airlines, is currently funding the remaining elements of the program.

"The City of Chicago and 21 airlines have committed to implementing the Terminal Area Plan as part of an approved capital program linked to the 2018 O'Hare Airline Use and Lease Agreement, which spans 15 years," stated a CDA representative. "The budget for the Terminal Area Plan stands at $6.1 billion in 2018 dollars." If finances permit, construction on the second satellite concourse will commence soon; it will connect to the first via an underground tunnel. According to the CDA, the first satellite concourse is expected to generate over 3,800 construction jobs.

To date, several temporary taxiways and a new road have been constructed, along with three new temporary gates at Concourse C. Taxiway B has also been redesigned. Work on the O'Hare Global Terminal is expected to commence in 2026, although plans could be subject to change.

"The TAP construction began with a series of preliminary infrastructure projects in March 2023, and Satellite Concourse 1 is projected to be finished in 2028," the CDA reported. "The city will provide updated timelines and cost projections for further components of the Terminal Area Plan in the coming months."

Several gate enhancement projects were finalized in 2023, including a significant expansion of O'Hare's international terminal (Terminal 5), which had a construction cost of $1.3 billion.

The expansion of Terminal 5 introduced 10 new gates and revamped the international arrivals area, customs, and security checkpoints within an additional 350,000 square feet of space. A new six-story parking garage is set to open in October.

Additionally, five new baggage screening machines were installed, along with various food and beverage options, including local favorites like The Hampton Social and Bar Siena, both of which originated downtown. Finally, as part of the modernization initiative, the CDA and the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events launched a $ million public art initiative, marking the largest local art acquisition in 30 years.