Judge rejects American’s pitch to retain gates at O’Hare
A last-minute attempt by American Airlines to delay Chicago from transferring some of the carrier’s O’Hare International Airport gates to rival United Airlines was rejected Thursday.
American had filed a preliminary injunction seeking to halt the gate reallocation, set to occur on Oct. 1, but a Cook County judge denied the request. The airline is pursuing a related breach of contract lawsuit over a deal reached with United and the city in 2018.
“While we are disappointed with the court’s ruling on American’s request for preliminary injunction, the court clearly found that the city made an agreement with American in 2018,” an American spokesperson said.
“We believe that agreement would have ensured that future gate assignments start from a fair playing field to maintain the balance of the nation’s largest dual hub. That was not honored during the gate redetermination process.”
In a letter to employees, United President Brett Hart called the decision “a powerful validation of United’s growth, investment and incredible workforce here in our hometown of Chicago.”
Chicago Department of Aviation Department officials said the decision allows the city to move forward with reallocating gates at O'Hare as planned.
“Ensuring that gates are allocated effectively is essential to keeping O'Hare competitive, fostering growth, and providing travelers with more choices and better service,” CDA Communications Director Kevin Bargnes said.
The CDA on May 30 updated its gate distribution at O’Hare, which is based on flight activity at the airport.
American would lose four gates, which it argues will significantly decrease its departures and arrivals and violates a 2018 deal with the city.
“The premature trigger of the gate reallocation will give one airline a competitive advantage from the start,” the American spokesperson said. “But we remain committed to Chicago and to preserving competition at O’Hare to ensure that local travelers — as well as those who connect at O’Hare from throughout our global network — will continue to benefit from lower fares and more choices that come from two competing carriers.”
United will gain five more gates in total, which Hart said was earned “as a direct result of our investment in the airport, our route network and our customers, who more and more are choosing to fly United.
“Now, with our five new gates coming Oct. 1, we’re ready to seize this opportunity and grow even more. In fact, October will be our busiest month yet at O’Hare,” he noted.
American officials did not say if they would appeal.