Jackson Jr. Pushing Ahead with Peotone Airport Plans

Jackson Jr. Pushing Ahead with Peotone Airport Plans

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Illnois U.S. Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. says a big federal investment in O’Hare airport will not affect his plans for an airport in the south suburbs.

That’s because his project would be funded completely through private enterprise, so it doesn’t compete with O’Hare for federal dollars.

But Jackson says it will compete with O’Hare when it comes to the fees it charges airlines.

""We plan to build a facility in the south suburbs, the Abraham Lincoln National Airport, that low-cost carriers can take advantage of, for as long as the airport exists,"" Jackson says.

Jackson says O’Hare’s high landing fees will drive carriers away.

Low-cost carriers are increasingly dominating the airline industry.

Jackson says the south suburban airport has all the investors in place, and is just waiting for the governor to transfer land.

The plan is currently being reviewed by the Federal Aviation Administration.“