Withdraws Application From FAA After Only Bid Rejected

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel has sent a letter to the FAA withdrawing the city's application to allow a private entity to take over management of Midway Airport, ending the current effort to transfer control of the airport to a private business.

In the letter obtained and excerpted by ChicagoBusiness.com, the Mayor cedes the city's position for consideration of its privatization effort by the FAA.

Emanuel says in the letter that, in his estimation, the city's "high standards" for a "fair and equitable deal" for all stakeholders at the airport were not met. The city received only one bid from a private group to manage the airport, which it rejected in September.

Emanuel left the door open for another group to bid to take over the airport's management, but none came forward.

City Spokeswoman Kelly Quinn said in a statement that this does not mean the issue can never be brought up again, but the city had to use "lots of political clout" just to be eligible to apply, and it was unclear what it might take to get back in the line.

(Image from file)

FMI: www.mayor.cityofchicago.org