WBEZ | airport

Emanuel considers privatizing Midway Airport

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 06:53:00 -0600

Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced Friday the city would look into privatizing Midway Airport.

The announcement comes just in time to make the December 31 deadline for the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration Airport Privatization Pilot Program.

The city will submit a preliminary application, timetable and draft of a Request for Qualification to the FAA to maintain a spot in the program. Officials said the program will allow the city to gain a better understanding of market conditions for a potential lease for Midway, according to a city press release.

Former Mayor Richard M. Daley tried to privatize Midway, but financing for the deal fell through in 2009. The Emanuel administration is stressing how any potential deal would be different from the deal proposed by the prior administration.

The Mayor's Officec said the move is not a commitment to selling Midway Airport, but they did release a list of certain conditions that any buyer would have to meet.

City officials said any lease would last up to 40 years, where Daley had proposed a 99-year lease. A deal would require the private operator to only a "traveler's bill of rights" to ensure customer protection.

The city would also receive revenue over time, instead of one big payment upfront. An Emanuel spokesperson said state law requires any revenue from the deal to go towards city infrastructure, pensions or the operating budget but said the city would not direct any money to the operating budget.

Still, the administration can expect pushback from some Chicagoans who are wary of yet another privatization deal.

Proposed 2012 Deal:

Length — No more than 40 years.
Payment — Some portion paid upfront, followed by revenue-sharing model over time.
Use of Revenue — Initial proceeds used to pay off debt issued by City in 1996 to rebuild Midway Airport. Revenue received over time to be used for ongoing and futre city infrastructure projects.

Proposed 2008 Deal (under former Mayor Richard M. Daley):

Length — 99 years
Payment — 100 percent made upfront
Use of Revenue — Initial proceeds used to pay off debt issued by City in 1996 to rebuild Midway Airport. Remaining proceeds would be used for "capital needs," which includes infrastructure, operating costs and pension obligations (required by law)

(Proposal information provided by Mayor's office.)

Unionized janitors lose battle over O’Hare jobs

Fri, 14 Dec 2012 12:54:00 -0600

Hundreds of unionized janitors turned in their badges Friday at O’Hare International Airport after losing their jobs in a contentious contract deal.

The task of cleaning and washing the windows at O’Hare will now be taken over by 400 non-unionized workers.

Labor leaders and union members held protests Monday through Thursday. They targeted Mayor Rahm Emanuel for union-busting.

“These were already organized union members,” said Laura Garza, Secretary-Treasurer with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 1. “So the question for the city is, why did they eliminate those good jobs, those middle-class jobs in the city? There was no need for the city of Chicago, for our mayor to do this to these workers.”

United Maintenance, the company that won the 5-year contract with the City of Chicago said it’s not up to them whether employees are unionized .

“That’s totally within the purview of the employee whether or not they want to unionize,” said Anthony D’Angelo, Vice President of Security with United Service Companies which oversees United Maintenance. “It’s not management’s decision.”

The face-off between the union and United Maintenance has gotten more heated in the days leading up to the janitors’ final day on the job, with both sides telling very different versions of the story.

In press releases this week, SEIU said workers will be paid less for the same work; United Maintenance said it’s paying some new hires more than they were making previously at O’Hare as employees of Scrubs, Inc. SEIU said workers will have to pay for family health benefits when they didn’t before; United Maintenance said its health package will be more comprehensive than the one offered by Scrubs, Inc.

Officials at the new contractor said they’ve hired back 110 workers who were previously with the union. SEIU put that number at 50 out of 400 laid-off workers.

The starting wage for janitors with United Maintenance is $11.90 - 15 cents less than the starting wage with Scrubs, Inc.

Garza said SEIU will try to organize the new O’Hare workers. She said those who lost their jobs did not want to speak to media Friday after an “emotional week”, but they are applying for unemployment and looking for work.

Strong winds delay Chicago flights

Tue, 30 Oct 2012 13:46:00 -0500

Hurricane Sandy has stranded many Chicago travelers again today.

Most flights heading to the Northeast coast are still canceled as airports deal with the aftermath of the storm system.

The Chicago Department of Aviation said about 325 flights out of O’Hare and 75 at Midway were canceled Tuesday.

The massive storm system has also kicked up winds in Chicago that are causing travel delays.

“We have high winds and it’s going to necessitate either delays or additional cancellations on the part of air carriers that operate (in Chicago),” said American Airlines spokesperson Mary Frances-Fagan. “In times like this, bring your patience with you to the airport.”

On Monday, more than 450 flights at O'Hare International Airport and more than 100 at Midway International Airport were canceled.

Officials said it could be days before some passengers can get to their destinations.

Worldwide, more than 15,000 flights have been cancelled because of the storm system.

Chicago officials said travelers should check with airlines before leaving home for the latest flight information.

$153 million airport expansion under way in Gary

Wed, 25 May 2011 13:38:00 -0500

On Wednesday, officials in Gary, Indiana break ground on a $153 million expansion of its airport. Extending one runway by nearly 2,000 feet will allow larger planes to land at the airport. That could be a boon for the long-struggling airport; especially efforts to make Gary/Chicago International the Chicago area’s third major airport.

To find out more, Eight Forty-Eight spoke with WBEZ’s Northwest Indiana reporter, Michael Puente.

Music Button: The Paul Speidel Band, "Whoa Yeah!", from the CD Retrorocket, (PSP Recordings)

Mayor Daley's final push for O'Hare expansion

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 14:32:00 -0500

His days in office are winding down but Mayor Daley continues to push his plans for O’Hare International Airport. A recent trip to China reignited his ideas for a high speed train to take commuters from the airport to the city. Daley has been behind expansion since the early '90s – despite ongoing controversy.

To find out more about the history of the project and what it means for the mayor’s legacy, Eight Forty-Eight spoke to Joseph Schwieterman, a professor of public service management at DePaul University and an authority on the economics of urban transportation.

Music Button: The Echocentrics, "Crescent Sun", from the CD Sunshadows, (Ubiquity)

iPads now being used as menus

Mon, 03 Jan 2011 21:55:00 -0600

An upscale downtown Chicago steakhouse is just one eatery across the country putting menus on iPads.

Chicago Cut steakhouse has invested in 40 iPads at about $700 each to showcase its wine menu. Since Apple debuted the iPad last spring the device is now in use as a menu at upscale restaurants, hamburger eateries and quick-service chains like Au Bon Pain. Restaurateurs say that's just the beginning.

Chicago Cut partnered with a technology firm to create a custom app that looks like a virtual wine cellar. Au Bon Pain uses iPads at six of its 220 locations, with plans to expand.

The tablets are arriving on the travel circuit, too. There are more than 200 iPads loaded with menus at gates in New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport and Celebrity Cruises has 75 iPads loaded with restaurant menus aboard one of its ships.

Cargo plane, United flight hit at O'Hare gate

Sun, 05 Dec 2010 16:08:00 -0600

A United Airlines spokesman said the wing of a cargo plane clipped the tail of a United Express jet at O'Hare International Airport, but no one was hurt.

United spokesman Rahsaan Johnson told the Chicago Tribune that the United flight was pulling into the gate about 9:15 p.m. Saturday when the accident happened. He said it didn't cause a commotion, and the 27 passengers and crew on board didn't even realize what had happened. All got off the plane safely.

The United Express flight had come in from Charlotte, North Carolina.

Johnson said he didn't yet know whether the snow in Chicago played a role in the accident. The airline is investigating.

Even after the snow stopped falling Saturday, the weather still caused delays at Chicago's largest airport.

The Chicago Department of Aviation said delays were averaging 20 minutes Saturday evening for flights in and out of O'Hare International Airport. More than 325 flights were canceled.

Across town at Midway International Airport, airlines were reporting no delays and no cancellations late Saturday. Earlier in the day, delays were averaging 30 minutes.

Aviation officials are advising travelers to check their airlines' website to check the status of flights.

Protests not a big deal at O'Hare

Wed, 24 Nov 2010 19:25:00 -0600

Early reports indicated a relatively smooth day of holiday travel in the Chicago area.

There were no significant delays through early afternoon at either of Chicago's airports, despite warnings of delays caused by people determined to opt-out of body scans.

Jel Stewart is an interactive marketing specialist at Travelocity. He's at O'Hare airport. "I haven't seen anybody make any fuss about doing the body scan or doing any opt-outs," Stewart said. "They've only had one or two scanners on from what I can see. It looks like they've just been doing random body scans. Otherwise, people are just going through the standard scanner that we've been used to going through."

Chicago Department of Aviation spokeswoman Karen Pride said, "Everything is operating normally. There are, I would describe, light crowds here at O'Hare. No problems getting through the security lines. The lines aren't long at all."

According to the Illinois State Police, road travel is expected to peak during the early part of afternoon rush hour when rain is called for, but temperatures should stay above freezing.

Travelers 'Opt Out' of invasive full-body screens

Wed, 24 Nov 2010 13:57:00 -0600

The day before Thanksgiving is generally one of the heaviest air travel days in the year and the new full-body screening methods will probably make the security lines slower. The Transportation Security Administration says such measures are necessary. But their alleged overly enthusiastic searches have led to "Saturday Night Live" parodies.

Organizations like wewontfly.com and flywithdignity.org aren’t having it – they’re calling for a "National Opt-Out Day."

Eight Forty-Eight took calls, emails and tweets from listeners.

To help weigh in on privacy and security, Colleen Connell, Executive Director of the Illinois ACLU joined the conversation. Also part of the discussion is transportation expert Professor Joe Schwieterman, a transportation expert and a Professor at DePaul University’s School of Public Service.

If you didn’t make it on the air, don’t forget you can continue sharing your stories and comments online.

Music Button: My Morning Jacket, "Touch Me I'm Going To Scream", from the CD Evil Urges, (Ato/Red records)

Durbin says talks have changed about a third Chicago airport

Tue, 16 Nov 2010 11:00:00 -0600

Federal dollars are on the way for the design of a new air traffic control tower at O'Hare International Airport. But nothing is in the pipeline for a third airport that's been long-proposed for the Chicago area.

Illinois U.S. Senator Dick Durbin said the recession has slowed down that discussion. "It's changed because the expansion of communities and residences toward the south have slowed down. It slowed down because the state of the economy and the state of the real estate market," said Durbin.

He said that makes getting private funding to build a third airport more challenging.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said the priority for Illinois lawmakers has been high speed rail, roads, bridges and O'Hare. He said no one has talked to him about a third airport.