United, American threaten to call off O'Hare expansion talks

By Julie Johnsson Tribune staff reporter

An elusive deal on funding the final new runways at O'Hare International Airport finally appeared to be close at hand after years of negotiations, representatives of United and American airlines said.  But then the city of Chicago dropped a bombshell on the airlines last week: It planned to hike rents and landing fees by millions of dollars and use the money to pay bonds that aren't due for another 20 years.  READ MORE