The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) is pleased to announce it will close a transaction to purchase 11 gates from Delta Airlines in Terminal 3, Concourse L at O'Hare International Airport, effective tomorrow, October 1.

The acquisition allows the CDA to lease out previously underutilized gates at O'Hare, which will help to generate revenue and increase competition at the airport. The CDA plans to allow Virgin America, Spirit, Jet Blue, Air Choice One and American Airlines to operate out of the 11 gates either on a preferential or common use basis.

The CDA's initiative to purchase the gates began in December 2009 when Northwest Airlines and Delta Airlines merged into a single air carrier operating under Delta's name. Following the merger, Delta vacated its gates in Terminal 3 at O'Hare and co-located the combined airlines' operations into Northwest's former premises in Terminal 2.

The Chicago City Council approved an ordinance for the CDA to acquire the gates on March 9, 2011.

The CDA's cost to purchase the gates from Delta was funded by Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) funds.