Why No Major New Airport Capacity In Chicago?
Given the enormous national and local benefits that a new airport would bring, one would think that everyone would support building the new airport. Instead, sadly, local gridlock has stalled the new airport for more than a decade. The reasons for the deadlock show us why we need to reform Congress’s program for building new airport capacity. Many do support the new airport. The State of Illinois strongly favors it. The south suburbs – where the project will be located – almost unanimously support it. Dozens of communities throughout the collar counties around Chicago have endorsed it. Where’s the rub? The airlines, who have a vested interest in maintaining their monopoly pricing power at Fortress O’Hare, have joined with the City of Chicago to block construction. In addition, the FAA has placed roadblock after roadblock in the project’s path. Finally, those who oppose the new airport have used our own programs for building new airports to fight it. United and American have understanda
