I was saying that I am confused that everyone is saying that the T5 expansion won't be complete until 2022 when it was scheduled to be complete in 2021. I thought that once the frameworking begins, then that combined with the fact that interior built out permits had been issued would mean that the rest of the project would move rather quickly from here and open later this year. I also saw on Google Flights that Delta was going to bring in some bigger planes like the A321 to ORD later this year, and I thought that might be a sign for them moving to T5 because they currently don't have many gates that support bigger planes like the A321, but everyone seems to say I'm wrong. I'm not saying that I'm right, I just am confused. Maybe I just don't understand how the construction process works.

Also, this image that I shared earlier shows which gates Delta is getting:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...8b41b2c2_h.jpg

Delta is getting the gates with the orange plane outlines (8-9 gates).

Delta has put A321's on their old gates many times. They even put a 767-300 on the old gates for several months last year. The 777-200 and A330 cargo flights always went to Delta cargo. That contract has been cancelled. Delta is a non starter and a who cares at Chicago unless they change their business model here.

By the way, Spirit's next move will not be to T5.

Are there any plans or renderings of the inside of the purple and red areas of the picture? I am curious to know what is going in there in addition to the customary restaurants, stores and shops. Is Delta building a new club for Sky Team? What other airlines have plans to build any clubs in T5 (Qatar, Emirates, Etihad)? Every time I have flown out of T5, I was so unimpressed by the business class lounges with maybe the exception of British Airways (I have not used that club in about 5 years so maybe it's not as good as i remember...)

Yes, Delta is building a new lounge for themselves and SkyTeam in the expansion.

Here are some renderings of the expansion:

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/N-zt...rminal_5.0.jpg

https://304ljw4amcep3ali496xph6b-wpe...00-800x535.jpg

https://304ljw4amcep3ali496xph6b-wpe...00-800x535.jpg

https://304ljw4amcep3ali496xph6b-wpe...00-800x535.jpg

I couldn't find any layouts/renderings for what will go in the purple section.

I do know that Delta is building a 22,500 square foot skyclub in Terminal 5, and I think this will go in the purple section:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...31bc0c15_b.jpg

And as far as other airlines go, All Oneworld/Star alliance airlines will be in the new Global Terminal, so they probably will have lounges there. Skyteam airlines will operate out of T5, so they will probably have new lounges here. As far as unaffiliated airlines go (like Emirates, Etihad), I don't know if they will operate out of T5 or the Global Terminal.

On a side note, Gates M11 (existing) and M20 (part of expansion) will both be A380 capable gates, so I wonder if Korean Air (Skyteam) would use one of them, and if another A380 operator will use the other. Global Terminal will also add some A380 gates so hopefully more airlines consider the A380 here in the future when demand recovers. Some airlines have committed to hold on to them, so I don't think it's completely out of the question.

Sexy renderings!!!! Thanks for sharing!

Do you this means Spirit Airlines will stay at entire T3 concourse L gates? They won’t be at T5. Do they think will keep more than 6 gates at the end of the concourse L?

No, yes and no.

Thanks. I would think the new Delta lounge will also be a SkyTeam lounge. I read the non-affiliated alliance int’l carriers will remain in T5. My money is that Emirates might build their own lounge there. I would love to see more A380s at ORD, but the world has changed since they planned the ORD21 project. I just can’t see Korean, Emirates, or even BA fly them to ORD. Sadly it’s 2-engine world.

https://www.igcinc.org/wp-content/up...-30-200904.pdf

This document might help understand the construction schedule for terminal 5.

Eastern Airlines Launches Transatlantic Flights From Chicago to Sarajevo

America’s Eastern Airlines is launching its first-ever route to Europe this summer. It will inaugurate flights from Chicago to Sarajevo. This will be the first time that Bosnia and Herzegovina will have a direct connection to the United States and the first time Eastern will operate flights out of O’Hare International Airport.

Starting on 28th May and ending on 5th September this year, Eastern Airlines will operate a single weekly flight between Chicago and Sarajevo that departs on Fridays and returns on Sundays. The schedule indicates that the same crew will be operating both legs of this rotation.

Tickets for this route are already on sale, and the schedule is as follows:

- Flight 2D972 will leave Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD) at 19:05 on Fridays to arrive at Sarajevo International Airport (SJJ) on Saturdays at 11:05.

- Flight 2D973 will leave Sarajevo at 08:00 on Sundays to arrive in Chicago the same day at 12:00 (mid-day).

https://simpleflying.com/eastern-air...flight-launch/

Eastern is such a weird carrier. Mostly focused on USA-LatAm service, but hey! let's add a route to Sarajevo just for kicks, even though they have no other transatlantic service.

Wait, eastern airlines is still a thing???

I thought they went under decades ago.

^ That's what I thought too, but apparently their brand assets were purchased by investors to slap onto a different bush-league airline, not once but twice. The Eastern that will serve O'Hare is the third incarnation.

I think the Chicago area has a pretty large south Slav population of Croats and Serbians in particular so I guess it isn't too surprising.

For my travel wants, I would think that a destination such as Split Croatia would be a lot more interesting. It seems the Croatian coast has popped up a lot more on travel radars the last few years from what I've heard.

Game of Thrones effect, beautiful coastline towns and a nice swim in the Adriatic.

I think this is some kind of special deal made between the Bosnia and US government. Yes Chicago has a large population of people from that area, I understand the second largest in the world. This might happen based on that fact. Other European international destinations might not be as easy as foot dragging will continue when it comes to opening borders this summer.

As far as Eastern is concerned, I think this is the 3rd US airline to use this name in the last 50 years. The first was ofcourse run into the ground by Mr. Lorenzo when he was also running Continental. You won't hear to much about that on the history of United Airlines on their website :).

They did!! More than three decades ago. And now, they reborn! New Eastern Airlines. Came from Miami base.

Just happened to see this:

All systems go on I-490, the toll road that could change O'Hare access and suburban driving

https://www.dailyherald.com/storyima...&noborder&Q=80

https://www.dailyherald.com/news/202...burban-driving

I wonder if this is part of the long term plan for way in the future to build the Western Terminal.

Youtube video of ATS under testing at O'Hare
• Video Link