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Old 02-05-2025 | 05:29 AM
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Default More ORD gates for United

United Airlines anticipates more O’Hare gates, flights after departure surge

Posted February 04, 2025 8:34 pm
Marni Pyke

United Airlines is expecting to land more gates at O’Hare International Airport this fall, a bonus resulting from a boom in departures.

“Last year, United operated 52% of total ORD departures but only had 48% of gates,” Vice President of United O’Hare hub Omar Idris told employees Tuesday in an email. “Since we have been growing at O’Hare, United expects to gain six gates.”

If approved by the Chicago Department of Aviation, that would bring United’s gate total from 88 to 94.

The gates would be reassigned from ones being used by other airlines with hub connectivity being a major factor in the decision, United officials explained.

“We expect to get these mainline gates by Oct. 1, and will fully utilize them to grow even more, including by adding at least two new long-haul international destinations,” Idris said.

The expanded footprint allows United to compete more effectively with hubs like Atlanta and Dallas Fort Worth, he noted.

The airline also anticipates adding flights this summer. In July, for example, approximately 585 peak day flights are planned compared to 510 in July 2024.

United’s ability to secure extra gates, pending approval, dates back to a 2018 agreement with United and American Airlines that allowed for O’Hare terminal redevelopment.

The pact lets the city reallocate gates based on historical activity at the airfield and “ensures that gate resources are used efficiently, fostering competition at O'Hare” that benefits consumers, CDA Communications Director Kevin Bargnes said.

Over the next few months, the CDA will assess each airlines’ market share at O’Hare over 2024 based on departing flights.

The agency will make an initial determination on gate numbers and locations by April 1. A final redetermination will follow with revised gate assignments going into effect in October, the city said.

Idris noted the carrier’s investment in large narrow-body jets like the Airbus A321neo and Boeing MAX9 means “we’re flying more seats from Chicago than we have in the past 20 years and hired nearly 2,000 employees in Illinois last year.”
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Old 02-05-2025 | 07:05 AM
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Originally Posted by jerryleber

United Airlines anticipates more O’Hare gates, flights after departure surge

Posted February 04, 2025 8:34 pm
Marni Pyke

United Airlines is expecting to land more gates at O’Hare International Airport this fall, a bonus resulting from a boom in departures.

“Last year, United operated 52% of total ORD departures but only had 48% of gates,” Vice President of United O’Hare hub Omar Idris told employees Tuesday in an email. “Since we have been growing at O’Hare, United expects to gain six gates.”

If approved by the Chicago Department of Aviation, that would bring United’s gate total from 88 to 94.

The gates would be reassigned from ones being used by other airlines with hub connectivity being a major factor in the decision, United officials explained.

“We expect to get these mainline gates by Oct. 1, and will fully utilize them to grow even more, including by adding at least two new long-haul international destinations,” Idris said.

The expanded footprint allows United to compete more effectively with hubs like Atlanta and Dallas Fort Worth, he noted.

The airline also anticipates adding flights this summer. In July, for example, approximately 585 peak day flights are planned compared to 510 in July 2024.

United’s ability to secure extra gates, pending approval, dates back to a 2018 agreement with United and American Airlines that allowed for O’Hare terminal redevelopment.

The pact lets the city reallocate gates based on historical activity at the airfield and “ensures that gate resources are used efficiently, fostering competition at O'Hare” that benefits consumers, CDA Communications Director Kevin Bargnes said.

Over the next few months, the CDA will assess each airlines’ market share at O’Hare over 2024 based on departing flights.

The agency will make an initial determination on gate numbers and locations by April 1. A final redetermination will follow with revised gate assignments going into effect in October, the city said.

Idris noted the carrier’s investment in large narrow-body jets like the Airbus A321neo and Boeing MAX9 means “we’re flying more seats from Chicago than we have in the past 20 years and hired nearly 2,000 employees in Illinois last year.”
I’m guessing that Air Canada will move to the first two gates of G, and Alaska will move to terminal 3 somewhere. The question is where are the other two gates coming from?
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Old 02-05-2025 | 07:09 AM
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Originally Posted by ClappedOut145
I’m guessing that Air Canada will move to the first two gates of G, and Alaska will move to terminal 3 somewhere. The question is where are the other two gates coming from?
This was going to be my guess as well. It’s possible the other two gates will be in G. Where did AWAC park? Were they in G? If so, and American doesn’t replace that with another regional feed, AA may not have need for those gates.
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Old 02-05-2025 | 07:16 AM
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Originally Posted by TOGALOCK
This was going to be my guess as well. It’s possible the other two gates will be in G. Where did AWAC park? Were they in G? If so, and American doesn’t replace that with another regional feed, AA may not have need for those gates.
Yeah. They were in G.
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Old 02-05-2025 | 07:41 AM
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Originally Posted by jerryleber
“Last year, United operated 52% of total ORD departures but only had 48% of gates,” Vice President of United O’Hare hub Omar Idris told employees Tuesday in an email. “Since we have been growing at O’Hare, United expects to gain six gates.”

If approved by the Chicago Department of Aviation, that would bring United’s gate total from 88 to 94.

The gates would be reassigned from ones being used by other airlines with hub connectivity being a major factor in the decision, United officials explained.

[...]

Idris noted the carrier’s investment in large narrow-body jets like the Airbus A321neo and Boeing MAX9 means “we’re flying more seats from Chicago than we have in the past 20 years and hired nearly 2,000 employees in Illinois last year.”
It's a shame gates aren't reassigned by a more equitable measure such as passenger counts. That would seem to give UAL even more gates, since with presumably higher gauge were are moving more people per gate. By ratio to mainline, I believe we have fewer RJs in ORD.

At an airport with capacity issues, it clearly seems that using total seat counts would encourage a more efficient use of gates...
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Old 02-05-2025 | 08:59 AM
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Six gates in ORD is huge and will allow for a lot of growth. Where will the 2 new longhaul routes out of ORD be to?
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Old 02-05-2025 | 10:40 AM
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Originally Posted by FlyPanAm
Six gates in ORD is huge and will allow for a lot of growth. Where will the 2 new longhaul routes out of ORD be to?
LHR and FCO on BOOM!
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Old 02-05-2025 | 12:26 PM
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Originally Posted by FlyPanAm
Six gates in ORD is huge and will allow for a lot of growth. Where will the 2 new longhaul routes out of ORD be to?

TLV and NRT would be my bet which would be great growth on widebody side which will trickle down. Just need planes.
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Old 02-05-2025 | 12:34 PM
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Originally Posted by TOGALOCK
LHR and FCO on BOOM!
And they will be turns. :-)
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Old 02-09-2025 | 12:59 PM
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Originally Posted by FlyingSlowly
It's a shame gates aren't reassigned by a more equitable measure such as passenger counts.
Sorry, equity is now dead in this country. That’s what the E stands for in DEI. The Federal government is currently scouring IT systems looking to delete any trace of it…


I do actually believe that number of departures is a better metric. Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar could fly A380’s and end up with many more gates than an airline like United flying most 737/A320/RJ’s to connect passengers.
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