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Airlines suit over O'Hare expansion heads to trial

The lawsuit filed by United and American airlines against the city of Chicago over O'Hare International Airport expansion will move toward trial.

All sides on Thursday asked Cook County Circuit Judge Richard Billik to lift a one-week delay on hearing the lawsuit opposed to the issuing of bonds for the expansion. The bond sale for the $3.4 billion second phase was postponed after the lawsuit was filed.

The delay was requested to give city and airline officials time to resolve major differences over the financing and timing of new runways at O'Hare, which the airlines say won't be needed for years.

Mayor Richard Daley said Thursday talks will continue, but he criticized the airlines for allegedly reneging on their promise in 2001 to help see through the overhaul of O'Hare.