Beginning Oct. 12, Delta customers traveling through Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) will be welcomed at the airline’s new home in Terminal 5. The spacious terminal, enhanced by a $50 million investment by Delta, comes equipped with modernized digital tools to expedite the check-in process and boasts a dazzling new 22,000-plus-square-foot Delta Sky Club—more premium space for customers to relax and recharge before flights. 

Delta’s move to Terminal 5 

By relocating services to Terminal 5, Delta will now be conveniently located in the same terminal as the airline’s SkyTeam and joint venture partners, eliminating the need for international customers to transfer terminals and re-enter security when flying through ORD. 

All customers will enjoy more efficient check-in with Terminal 5’s updated technology and process improvements. The check-in lobby features new kiosks equipped with self-tagging functionality for checked bags, plus a fully self-service bag drop at certain positions for an especially seamless experience (Delta is the only global airline at ORD with a self-service bag drop option for customers). 

The modernized T5 concourse features larger and elevated gate areas and an improved Help Center, with expanded concession offerings coming in early 2023.  

“Delta remains committed to reimagining the entire travel journey, both on the ground and in the air,” said Ranjan Goswami – SVP, Customer Experience Design. “We’re making major terminal investments across the U.S. to offer a better airport experience that feature more efficient check-ins, quicker connections and truly best-in-class lounge experiences.” 

First class in the Second City: The new Delta Sky Club in Terminal 5 

The centerpiece of Delta’s Terminal 5 home – a new Delta Sky Club – adds over 22,000 square feet of sleek lounge space to the airline’s portfolio.  

At four times the size of the previous Club in Terminal 2, the new Club includes seating for nearly 400 guests. Modern interior design touches in the Club, including wrapped columns, signature lighting fixtures, stone countertops and custom furniture, give the space a warm, elevated look and feel.  

“Chicago is a global city that connects travelers to destinations all around the world, and we wanted to elevate our presence here to give our customers the premium experience they deserve,” said Claude Roussel, Managing Director – Delta Sky Club. “Guests will find much to love in this new space – in addition to its amenities and stunning design, the T5 lounge offers one-of-a-kind experiences unique to our Club network.”  

The Gallery at ORD features pieces curated through Delta Sky Club’s art program and includes large-scale neon art, sculpture and large-scale mixed media works featuring local Chicago artists.   

Guests of the Club will enjoy expanded food and beverage offerings served from two buffets, including charcuterie, seasonal salads, freshly made sandwiches, hot entrees and vegetarian selections. A full-service bar will serve Delta Sky Club’s standard selection of wine, beer, and premium liquors and cocktails, while a wine bar --- the only one of its kind in the Delta lounge network – features an overhead rack holding premium whites and reds.  

Additional amenities include four premium showers, privacy sound booths for quiet work and a family room for nursing mothers.

Skip the wait at the gate: Board select flights directly from Delta Sky Club  

Exclusive to this location, Delta customers will be able to board select flights via boarding bridges connected directly to the Club, with two separate gate areas located near the Club entrance and behind the wine bar. 

Building more state-of-the-art Delta Sky Clubs, enhancing infrastructure across the network 

The T5 Club is the fourth new Club opened this year, joining the largest Clubs in Delta’s network at New York’s LaGuardia and Los Angeles International airports, as well as the airline’s only international Club at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport.  

Delta offers over 40 peak-day, nonstop departures out of ORD to eight of the airline’s nine U.S. hubs, including both NYC hubs (LGA and JFK). The airline continues to add to its ORD network offerings, with seat capacity increasing by 15% since spring 2022, driven by additional flying to Boston, Detroit and Minneapolis. 

“On behalf of the entire City of Chicago, I’d like to thank Delta Air Lines for its ongoing commitment to connecting our city to the world through its investment in O’Hare International Airport’s Terminal 5 as part of its $1 billion transformation,” said Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot. “With the help of Delta and our other airline partners, Chicago stands ready to welcome visitors from all over the United States and the world and show them why Condé Nast Traveler readers have rated us as the Best Big City in the U.S. for six years in a row.” 

O’Hare’s terminal upgrade builds on other major airport investments launched this year. Just a few weeks ago, Delta unveiled the next major phase of the Delta Sky Way at LAX: the brand-new T3 facility, featuring nine new gates equipped with spacious seating areas as well as premium concessions and retail offerings. Once complete in 2023, Terminals 2 and 3 will be a consolidated 1.2-million-square-foot, state-of-the-art, 27-gate complex, featuring a quick airside connector to the Tom Bradley International Terminal, eliminating the need to bus between terminals. 

Additionally, Delta opened the doors to its stunning new Terminal C facility at its New York-LaGuardia hub in June, a $4 billion project that transforms the LGA airport experience into one built for efficiency, speed and beauty. The LGA terminal project will eventually consolidate Delta operations into a four-course, 37-gate terminal, scheduled to be completed in 2024.