But Still Hasn't Okayed O'Hare Expansion

Chicago city leaders were singing the praises of the FAA this week over the government's decision to halt all construction and to stop altering traffic patterns over O'Hare International. But that still doesn't mean the FAA is in love with the city's plans for expanding and renovating the airport.

Chicago aviation leaders, however, were pointing to Monday's announcement as if it were a left-handed endorsement of their plans to spend billions on bringing O'Hare up to date.

"What the letter from the FAA signals for the first time is that we have a project that is potentially going to be developed," Rosemarie Andolino, city director of the O'Hare expansion project, told local reporters. "It's important. The FAA is protecting the airspace and controlling what can be built around the airport."

Opponents to the city's plan say it will do nothing to relieve the massive congestion that plagues O'Hare. That congestion has been the focus of talks between the FAA and 16 airlines serving O'Hare. The airport has seen more than 58,000 flight delays this year alone.

FMI: www.ohare.com