Relief for Chicago?

If you’ve ever been stranded in O’Hare Airport in Chicago because of delays, you will agree with the latest news from the FAA.

The head of the Federal Aviation Administration, Robert Sturgell, says Chicago needs to make airport adjustments or additions to keep up with current air travel demand. Chicago’s O’Hare Airport is currently the world’s second busiest airport, and is undergoing a $15 billion expansion. In his plan, Sturgell outlined two options in addition to O’Hare’s expansion: build a new airport or expand an existing small airport.

The FAA anticipates that airport traffic in major hubs, like Chicago, will increase with the implementation of NextGen, a satellite-guided air traffic system set to replace the current, radar-based system used since the 1950s.

While this is good news for those of us who have ever experienced 8 hour delays in O’Hare, the FAA warns that airport additions will be met with opposition from political and environmental groups.