28 January, 2019: American Airlines has opened a new hangar at its hub at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD). It is the largest hangar on the airfield at ORD. The new facility is called Hangar 2 and its completion marks the carrier’s latest milestone reached in a series of major investments in Chicago.
“This day marks a watershed moment for O’Hare as we open the airport’s first new hangar in 30 years,” said Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “American Airlines recognises the value of this investment, and I look forward to working with all of our airline partners as we continue transforming O’Hare and upholding Chicago’s status as a leading global gateway.”
The new hanger has increased the bay capacity. It is a 191,000-square-foot structure which will be able to accommodate six narrow body aircraft or two narrow body aircraft and two wide body aircraft, including the Boeing 787, on which American operates international flights at ORD.
“We are now offering customers more seats in and out of Chicago than at any time in the last 10 years,” said Franco Tedeschi, Vice President of ORD Hub Operations. “With the new hangar, we have the space and tools to better serve our customers and our 9,300 team members based at ORD. We look forward to working with our partners at the City of Chicago and reaching more milestones as Chicago’s carrier of choice.”
The hanger also has high-tech features and updated work centres which provide more than 850 ORD maintenance team members with the most current tools to maintain the airline’s state-of-the-art aircraft. It has also increased the overnight workload capacity.