Reports: American dropping opposition to O'Hare expansion

American Airlines will drop its opposition to a planned $8.5 billion expansion of O'Hare International Airport in a deal struck with Chicago's mayor, sources told the Chicago Tribune and Crain's Chicago Business late Wednesday.

American and the city reportedly agreed to expedite construction of three new gates on L Concourse that American has been eyeing to offset five new gates archrival United Airlines is getting, Crain's reported.

The Chicago City Council on Thursday is set to start considering Mayor Rahm Emanuel's eight-year O'Hare overhaul that would include a new Terminal 2 and more gates, concourses and hotels, plus new parking particularly on the west end, though only for employees in the short term.

American Airlines "was looking forward to supporting (a) new lease" but couldn't sign the lease "because of a secret provision ... awarding additional gates to United," an American Airlines statement said Feb. 28.

The deal should clear the way for final approval of the massive project. United Airlines and all of O'Hare's other carriers had already agreed to sign on, and there has been little sign of aldermanic opposition, Crain's reported.

The expedited gates will be for common use, not just American's, sources told Crain's.

Suburban travelers had hoped of being greeted by a building with security screening and a people-mover on the airport's west end once the Route 390 extension reaches the airport in 2024.