Judge clears O'Hare gate reallocation favoring United

Published on Sep 27, 2025, 9:44 am CDT

5 min read

A Cook County Circuit Court order on September 25 cleared Chicago to proceed with this fall's gate reallocation at O'Hare International Airport (ORD), denying American Airlines' bid for an injunction. The city's formula shifts five additional gates to United Airlines and removes four from American beginning October 1, based on prior-year gate utilization under the airport's 2018 lease framework. United, which hubs and is headquartered in Chicago, has widened its lead at O'Hare since the pandemic, while American mounted a late-summer surge. The ruling positions United to grow further at the airport while American pursues its underlying contract claims.

Key points

Why it matters: The order lets Chicago implement O'Hare's 2025 gate reallocation on October 1.
Travel impact: United gains five gates; American loses four, enabling schedule growth and gate moves.
What's next: American's broader contract case continues, and an appeal of the injunction denial is possible.
United's president called the order a validation of the airline's growth and investment in Chicago.
The city says the decision affirms its usage-based allocation process under the 2018 lease.

Snapshot

Judge Thaddeus Wilson denied American's request to block Chicago's gate reallocation, finding the 2018 Airline Use and Lease Agreement did not require every future gate to be operational before the ramp-up and assessment period could start. Chicago's Department of Aviation uses a use-it-or-lose-it methodology that reassigns gate access based on prior calendar-year utilization. With the order, United is set to assume five additional gates on October 1, while American's footprint contracts by four. United has already outpaced American's recovery at O'Hare, expanding its seat lead between 2019 and 2024, and says the added gates will support continued growth. American argues the redetermination was triggered prematurely and remains committed to litigating its contract claims while maintaining a strong Chicago presence.

Background

O'Hare's 2018 lease created the framework for periodic gate "redetermination" tied to actual usage. During those negotiations, American pressed for expedited construction of three common-use "L-Stinger" gates adjacent to its operation, with the last opening March 14. American claimed the city promised a 12-month ramp-up after those gates went live before any usage review. Chicago and the court disagree, saying the agreement did not condition the assessment on every future gate being operational. United and American both hub at O'Hare, but United rebuilt faster after 2020 and has increased its relative seat share at ORD, while American accelerated capacity this summer. The June announcement of United's five additional gates set the stage for the current legal fight and the now-cleared October 1 handover.

Latest developments

Court denies injunction; Chicago proceeds with usage-based gate plan

Judge Wilson's September 25 order denies American's preliminary-injunction request, allowing Chicago to carry out the 2025 gate reallocation effective October 1. The court concluded the lease did not require completion of all contemplated gates before the usage assessment window, and that American lacks a contractual right to the L-Stinger positions it referenced. Chicago's Department of Aviation said the decision lets it move forward with the planned adjustments. United President Brett Hart told employees the ruling is a validation of United's growth and investment in its hometown hub. American stated the timing gives one airline an advantage but said it remains committed to Chicago and to preserving competition at O'Hare while pursuing its underlying claims.

Analysis

For travelers, this decision largely affects airside logistics rather than near-term ticketed schedules. United's gain of five gates should reduce gate conflicts and towing at peak times and can support incremental flying, tighter bank structures, and faster turns. American's loss of four gates may compress slack in some banks, potentially increasing towing or longer gate-hold times during irregular operations, though the carrier has already boosted ORD capacity this summer and can mitigate via schedule shaping and common-use positions. Strategically, the ruling reinforces O'Hare's shift to a utilization-driven allocation. That tends to favor the carrier growing fastest at the hub, which in recent years has been United. American's litigation continues, and it could seek appellate relief, but the city's first-party statement and the court's order signal that the October 1 reallocation will proceed. Expect United to lean into fall and winter capacity adds from ORD, while American prioritizes operational efficiency and selective growth where gate access remains optimal.

Final thoughts

Gate access at O'Hare is a long-game, and usage rules reward consistent flying and efficient turns. With the injunction denied, United gets a clearer runway to expand, while American adapts within a leaner gate footprint as it pursues its claims. Travelers should see incremental operational benefits on United as the new gate mix settles, with minimal disruption to existing bookings. We will track any appeal and downstream schedule changes tied to the O'Hare gate reallocation.