WASHINGTON - Opponents of a controversial proposal to expand capacity at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport believe that recent requests by two financially troubled airlines to delay a $3.6 billion plan to build two additional terminals there will scuttle the expansion proposal.
But supporters are confident that the much-debated $6.6 billion plan to reconfigure and expand the airport's runways will not be affected by requests by American Airlines and United Airlines to postpone construction of the World Gateway terminals project. The two airlines advocate more efficient uses of existing gates and say additional gates will not be needed until passenger levels increase.
A spokesperson for the city of Chicago said yesterday officials were currently "evaluating" all relevant information and would "release something soon" regarding the airlines' request.
However, opponents of the airport expansion plan believe the two airlines' financial problems will doom the project.
"Moving forward with a runway expansion plan that would nearly double the number of flights at O'Hare without adding a single new gate would further compound delays at O'Hare rather than solve the problem," said Sen. Peter G. Fitzgerald, R-Ill., in a statement late Wednesday. "How the heck are they going to deplane?"
Fitzgerald, who is a staunch opponent of expanding O'Hare and has threatened to filibuster federal legislation that would implement the plan, favors building a third airport about 40 miles from Chicago, near Peotone, to relieve aviation congestion. The airlines' request also prompted local opposition leaders to criticize the expansion plan and promote the Peotone option.
"As far as the expansion plan is concerned, they're on life support now," said Elk Grove Village Mayor Craig Johnson. He also is the vice-chairman of the suburban O'Hare Commission, which opposes runway expansion.
The main "cog" in the project was the airlines, Johnson said, pointing out that the runways cannot be reconfigured and expanded unless the new terminals are also constructed. "You can't do one without the other," he said.
Now that the airlines want a delay in the terminal plan, Johnson said the proposal to have private developers build an airport at Peotone becomes a more viable option.
However, supporters of increasing capacity at O'Hare contend that the airlines' request will not affect the expansion. Because additional gates will eventually be needed, the runways could be expanded initially and gates could be added later when passenger levels increase.
"There is no doubt that once the runway expansion project goes forward there would have to be some plan in place to expand the terminals," said Joe Shoemaker, a spokesman for Sen. Richard J. Durbin, R-Ill., who supports O'Hare expansion.
Durbin has sponsored a bill due to be considered by the full Senate this fall that would ensure that the plan for O'Hare expansion is implemented. Fitzgerald plans to use parliamentary tactics to block the bill's passage.
Air passenger traffic statistics show that travel in July 2002 was down 10.6% over last July, according to the Air Transport Association, and the airlines contend that adding the runways first will allow them to make their routes more efficient and reduce delay.
"Right now the airlines are most interested in gaining efficiencies and reducing taxi times and delays caused by weather," said Fitch Ratings airport analyst Peter Stettler. "That will be enhanced by the runway reconfiguration."
Stettler said that at some point airlines may need to build more gates, but they are currently exploring ways that they can use the gates they have more efficiently.
