The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) revealed that it would settle a deal to buy 11 gates from Delta Airlines in Terminal 3, Concourse L at O'Hare International Airport, from October 1.

The takeover enables the CDA to rent earlier poorly used gates at O'Hare, which will result in returns and raise competition at the airport. The CDA aims to permit Virgin America, Spirit, Jet Blue, Air Choice One and American Airlines to run from the 11 gates either on a preferential or common use basis. The CDA's program to buy the gates started in December 2009 when Northwest Airlines and Delta Airlines united into a single air carrier working under Delta's brand. After the union, Delta left its gates in Terminal 3 at O'Hare and co-situated the integrated airlines' business in Northwest's earlier premises in Terminal 2. The Chicago City Council sanctioned an ordinance for the CDA to purchase the gates on March 9, 2011. The CDA's expense to buy the gates from Delta was financed by Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) cash.