How does airline merger play out with O'Hare's western terminal?

Expect the creation of the world's largest airline to bring changes to O'Hare but not as far as the turbulent negotiations over paying for airport expansion go, aviation experts say.

The proposed merger of United and Continental Airlines comes amid friction between Chicago, which is pushing to complete a costly modernization plan, and United and American Airlines.

As the city looks for funding to pay for three runways and a western terminal, United and American have questioned the need for the new terminal. Facing tough economic times, both recently balked at proposals to raise rent and landing fees.

United spokesman Michael Trevino said the airline continues to talk with the Chicago Department of Aviation about modernization. He said it was too early to comment on how the new company would approach the issue.

Department of Aviation spokeswoman Eve Rodriguez said the city was still negotiating with both airlines.

Asked what power a United/Continental behemoth could wield in terms of influencing the future of a western terminal, Northwestern University's Aaron Gellman noted "I'm not sure how much more clout this would give United, but the city of Chicago has a lot of clout already."

The need for a western terminal has been demonstrated, noted Gellman, a professor of management and strategy and former Transportation Center director. Now the expectation is that the economy will improve leading to air travel growth.

That said, time will tell, whether any consolidations between United and Continental will play a part in the western terminal issue, he said.

DePaul University's Joseph Schwieterman said the merger puts the O'Hare expansion into the hands of "two global powerhouses."

While the Continental-United marriage could pave the way for using larger aircraft and negate demand for more gates, Schwieterman noted that the two airlines don't overlap service significantly, which means less need for consolidations.

Overall, the impact on negotiations should be neutral, said Schwieterman, director of the Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development.

Meanwhile DuPage County Chairman Robert Schillerstrom said a modernized O'Hare without a full-service western terminal is unthinkable.

"If you take out parts of the plan, the plan won't work very well," he said. "People should have the same options entering from the west as from the east."

If the largest airline in the world is located at O'Hare it will create a need for more gates and associated economic development, he predicted.