# American Airlines Gate Openings at O'Hare International Airport 8.13.26

- Date: August 13, 2026
- Type: Video
- Length: 19:13
- Topic: Other
- Video: [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5LIVH2GYjw)
- Transcript: Machine transcription, 2,161 words ([text](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/transcripts/youtube/_5LIVH2GYjw.txt))
- Mayor: [Brandon Johnson](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor)

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/_5LIVH2GYjw?t=0) Terminal 3 update overview
- [4:25](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/_5LIVH2GYjw?t=265) Government remarks
- [9:07](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/_5LIVH2GYjw?t=547) Federal partnership remarks
- [12:10](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/_5LIVH2GYjw?t=730) American Airlines investment

## Description

Mayor Brandon Johnson attends the American Airlines Gate Openings at O'Hare International Airport.

## Transcript

[1:10](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/_5LIVH2GYjw?t=70) Good morning. Good. Can we get everybody's attention? So good morning. Welcome to O'Hare. As many of you know, I'm Commissioner Michael McMurray with the Chicago Department of Aviation. And thank you for joining us at O'Hare as we mark a key milestone in Elevate D3, our $300 million transformation of Terminal 3. Yes, today we're celebrating the reopening of gates K-1 and L-2A, along with the opening of four new baggage claim carousels.

[1:48](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/_5LIVH2GYjw?t=108) For passengers, these improvements mean more room, better accessibility, and a smoother experience. For everyone who has helped deliver them, they represent months of detailed planning, careful coordination, and hard work. That collaboration is especially important because we are rebuilding Terminal 3 while it remains open and fully operational, as you can see. Every phase must be carefully sequenced around passengers, aircraft, baggage operations, security, concessions, building systems,

[2:22](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/_5LIVH2GYjw?t=142) as well as thousands of hardworking employees who keep this terminal operating and moving every single day. That takes a true team effort. I want to thank American Airlines for being a committed partner in this work and for continuing to invest in its Chicago hub. I also want to recognize our construction team of CT3, the joint venture of Clark Construction and WE O'Neill, W.E. O'Neill, along with the skilled tradespeople, designers, engineers, subcontractors,

[2:55](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/_5LIVH2GYjw?t=175) and suppliers who bring this project to life. Thank you, as well, to the Transportation Security Administration, our concession partners, airport tenants, CDA employees, and every operational team that has worked with us to solve problems, adjust schedules, and keep passengers moving safely throughout construction. The progress is visible throughout T3. New restrooms are opening. The roof replacement is nearing completion. and baggage systems are being upgraded.

[3:28](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/_5LIVH2GYjw?t=208) Each milestone brings us closer to a Terminal 3 that is brighter, easier to navigate, and better equipped to serve passengers for decades to come. This is what responsible airport construction looks like. Public and private sector partners working together, solving complex challenges and delivering improvements while the airport continues to operate. No one, and I mean no one, understands the importance of that mission better than our next speaker.

[4:02](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/_5LIVH2GYjw?t=242) He has made major infrastructure investment, economic opportunity, and a stronger future for Chicago central priorities of his administration. Please join me in welcoming the mayor of our great city of Chicago, Mayor Brandon Johnson. Good morning, everyone. Thank you, Commissioner McMurray, for your leadership in that introduction. Today we are excited to be here at O'Hare, and what a powerful example of what we can accomplish

[4:39](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/_5LIVH2GYjw?t=279) when government, labor, and the private sector come together. Today, Gates K-1 and L-2A are back in service. New baggage claim carousels are welcoming arriving passengers, and across Terminal 3, people can see Elevate T3 moving from Plans plans on a page to real improvements that make travel easier, more comfortable, and more accessible. The progress we see today began with partnerships.

[5:11](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/_5LIVH2GYjw?t=311) And I want to offer my deepest thanks to the federal leaders who have stood up for Chicago and stood behind this project, Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth. Let's give them a round of applause. I want to thank them for their extraordinary leadership, for being champions for O'Hare and for our transportation system and for the working people who build and replace it. Their leadership helped secure $90 million in competitive federal grants from Elevate

[5:46](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/_5LIVH2GYjw?t=346) T3 through the bipartisan infrastructure laws airport terminal program. That investment means better facilities for passengers, stronger infrastructure for our airlines, and good jobs for people of this city and throughout the region. We are profoundly grateful for their advocacy, their persistence, and most of all, their unwavering belief in the importance of a world-class O'Hare. I also want to thank American Airlines for its tremendous investment in Terminal 3

[6:19](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/_5LIVH2GYjw?t=379) and its continued confidence in the Chicago market. Let's give American Airlines a round of applause. Because American is not just simply an airline that operates here. It is a long-standing partner in Chicago's growth, connecting our residents and businesses to destinations across the country and around the world, while also continuing to add critical services and capacity and customer amenities at O'Hare.

[6:50](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/_5LIVH2GYjw?t=410) Americans' investment and continued growth send a clear message. Chicago is truly a market worth betting on. O'Hare is a hub worth building for. And our future is most certainly strong. And we are building beyond Terminal 3. August 18th marks one year since we broke ground on the new Concourse D, the largest new facility to be built at O'Hare in more than 30 years. The new Concourse D is an important project of ORDnext, which is the largest terminal expansion in O'Hare history and a once-in-a-generation opportunity to recreate the heart of this airport for decades to come.

[7:41](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/_5LIVH2GYjw?t=461) One year later, the new Concourse project is moving forward responsibly and with real momentum. It remains on schedule for completion in late 2028, and we have locked in an agreement to ensure it's delivered at least $21 million below the approved budget. For their tremendous support of this project, again, I must thank American Airlines and our hometown carrier, United Airlines.

[8:15](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/_5LIVH2GYjw?t=495) This is what disciplined public infrastructure deliberately looks like. Ambitious in vision, careful with resources, and accountable for results. From reopened gates to Concourse D, rising at the world's busiest airfield, we're building a better O'Hare, improving the passenger experience, creating opportunity for Chicagoans, and strengthening our place as a global gateway. So thank you all again for your tremendous belief and support in the expansion and delivery of upgrades of this airport.

[8:52](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/_5LIVH2GYjw?t=532) And so now it is truly my pleasure to bring to the podium of the long-standing great senator of this great state, Senator Dick Durbin. Thanks, Mayor Johnson, for that introduction, and Commissioner McMurray for your leadership. It seems strange for me to come to O'Hare and not catch an airplane. But I think this visit this morning is historic, and I wanted to be part of it.

[9:25](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/_5LIVH2GYjw?t=565) At the end of this year, I'll be wrapping up 44 years in Congress, in the House, in the Senate. To give you an idea of my use of O'Hare Airport, 50 round trips a year times 44 years, you get the drift. I've seen this airport for many years and seen it get improved for the better time and time again. I'm glad to be here today to celebrate this historic milestone, Elevate T3, a critical addition.

[10:00](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/_5LIVH2GYjw?t=600) to an already world-class airport. Last year, O'Hare reclaimed its title as the world's busiest airport. It was so busy on average, a plane took off and landed at O'Hare every 37 seconds in 2025, weather permitting. With more travelers visiting our city every day, it's essential that O'Hare has its support to provide the best hospitality Chicago can offer.

[10:35](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/_5LIVH2GYjw?t=635) The Elevate T3 project does just that. We broke ground in 2024, and today two Terminal 3 gates and two baggage carousels have reopened, making more space for passengers. But there's more to come in Elevate T3 before it's complete. By consolidating TSA checkpoints, revamping the baggage claim area, and adding a new 10,000-square-foot concession and amenity area, this project gives travelers a pleasant and welcoming experience for decades to come.

[11:12](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/_5LIVH2GYjw?t=672) This reservation was made possible through former President Joe Biden's bipartisan infrastructure law. It created a new grant program. Senator Duckworth and I decided we would do our damnedest to make sure that Chicago got more than its fair share when it came to this grant program. Because of her work with our office, O'Hare received two of the largest grants ever awarded under this program. One for $50 million and another for $40 million.

[11:45](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/_5LIVH2GYjw?t=705) bringing taxpayers' money back home from Washington to benefit the back taxpayers and the economy of this area. Senator Tuckworth and I were eager to be part of this and will continue to be. I stand ready to work with Mayor Johnson, Commissioner McMurray, and the Illinois Congressional Delegation, all of them. We are united in our effort for O'Hare. Now I'm going to turn it over to Steve Newman, Senior Vice President of American Airlines. Thank you, Senator, and thank you, Mr. Mayor and Commissioner.

[12:25](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/_5LIVH2GYjw?t=745) My name is Steve Newman with American Airlines, and I want to thank you all for being here. I want to start by just acknowledging how difficult the weather has been in Chicago over the last few days. It is always challenging to run an airline. It is challenging to run an airline in an airport and in an airspace as complex as Chicago. and to try and confront the weather that we've been confronting for a week has really posed significant challenges. But I want to thank Ben Humphrey, who leads our hub operations here,

[12:55](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/_5LIVH2GYjw?t=775) as well as hardworking team members for American, for the airport, for the federal government, the FAA, really doing best to take care of our customers. But today is an exciting day for O'Hare. It's an exciting day for Chicago and for the millions of customers who travel through this airport every year. And it's an exciting day for American Airlines. We're celebrating our centennial year, and we are proud to be making these investments in Chicago, where we launched our first flight just over 100 years ago. For a century, this city has played a vital role in shaping who we are as an airline.

[13:30](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/_5LIVH2GYjw?t=810) And in turn, American has helped shape and strengthen Chicago's position as a global gateway, a thriving business center, and a destination that connects people and opportunities from around the world. O'Hare Airport is unique. It is the only airport in the country where two global network carriers operate connecting hubs. Those two are American Airlines and another one. I forget, but there are two. I'm sure there are two. The real beneficiaries of the dual hub are the people who live in the Chicagoland area,

[14:04](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/_5LIVH2GYjw?t=844) businesses that operate here in the Chicagoland area, and economic development professionals who are trying to recruit more businesses to invest and grow jobs here. Our partnership with Chicago is powerful, and today is a testament to what we can accomplish when we work together. The project that we're talking about today is part of something bigger, a shared commitment among government officials, airport leaders, workers, and private partners to ensure that O'Hare Airport remains one of the world's leading airports and will remain so for generations to come.

[14:37](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/_5LIVH2GYjw?t=877) Mayor Johnson, Commissioner McMurray, Senator Durbin, and Senator Duckworth, and our many federal partners who helped make this project possible, thank you for your vision, for your leadership, and for collaborating with us as we continue investing in Americans' home at O'Hare. Now, you've already heard about the benefits of Elevate T3, but in addition to all that you've already heard, this project... will unlock another investment that we're very excited about, a new El Concourse Admirals Club that will double the size of our existing lounge. And we're going to give you the first look at what

[15:11](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/_5LIVH2GYjw?t=911) travelers can expect today. Thank you. And the timing couldn't be better. This comes as American is doubling down on our Chicago hub, which is now the third largest in our global network. Over the past 18 months, we've made significant investments here to make travel more seamless, more reliable, and more enjoyable across the customer journey. That includes adding more than 30 destinations, including adding new service to Tokyo Narita. We've introduced smoother boarding, faster check-in, and complimentary Wi-Fi, sponsored by our partners at AT&T.

[15:45](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/_5LIVH2GYjw?t=945) We've also brought industry-leading products here, like the Boeing 787-9, with our flagship suite seats. American Airlines is a premium global airline, and we're making these investments here because we believe in Chicago, and we believe in O'Hare, and we believe in the customers, communities, and businesses that depend on this airport every day. At our country's only dual hub, one of the most competitive hubs in the world, that choice and the choices that we're making to invest here matter all the more.

[16:18](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/_5LIVH2GYjw?t=978) It is those investments, in addition to our 10,000 team members here in Chicago, who really show up every day to take care of our customers. We look forward to building on this momentum together as we define our next century as Chicago's areas of choice, airline of choice. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, everybody. I just want to say, you know, aviation really is a business of collaboration, partnership, and teamwork.

[16:51](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/_5LIVH2GYjw?t=1011) and there's no greater demonstration than what we've seen here today. I want to thank you all for coming out today. Again, thank you to American Airlines and their great partnership. Thank you to Senator Durbin. Of course, thank you to our fantastic mayor for his support. And I think that concludes our program. And what we're going to do now is proceed to the ribbon cutting. So thank you, everybody. Thank you all for coming out.

Sources and methods: [how we get and count this data](/about#methods) · [report an error](/about#corrections)

---
Source: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/_5LIVH2GYjw · Chicago Politics, an independent tracker of the Chicago City Council. Guide for agents: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/llms.txt