Sky Harbour breaks ground on 16-acre private aviation campus at Chicago Executive

Sky Harbour Group has broken ground on a 16-acre private aviation campus at Chicago Executive Airport, according to General Aviation News. The development marks one of the largest private infrastructure investments in the airport's history.

The campus will introduce Sky Harbour's Home Base Operator (HBO) model to the Chicago region. Unlike traditional FBOs that serve both transient and based aircraft, Sky Harbour campuses are dedicated exclusively to Sky Harbour residents, combining private hangars and suites with dedicated line service and fueling.

The development plan

The first phase of development will feature four private hangars ranging from 18,000 to 37,000 square feet, with adjoining suites, offices and parking, supported by full line service. The campus is expected to open in early 2028.

Chicago Executive Airport officials expect the development to create or sustain hundreds of local jobs and generate as much as $550 million in economic benefit for surrounding communities and the Greater Chicago region.

The airport and region

Chicago Executive Airport is owned jointly by the City of Prospect Heights and the Village of Wheeling and serves as a reliever airport for Chicago O'Hare International Airport. The airport handles approximately 100,000 corporate, charter, and recreational aircraft operations annually.

Jeff Miller, Executive Director of Chicago Executive Airport, said the project brings much-needed hangar capacity to the airport and introduces an approach to home basing designed around the needs of aircraft owners and flight departments. He added that Sky Harbour's model strengthens the range of options available to the aviation community at Chicago Executive.

The reporting does not say whether Sky Harbour plans additional phases at the site beyond the four hangars in the first phase, or provide a timeline for when construction will be completed.

Sky Harbour operates the Home Base Operator model at other locations, though the reporting does not identify which airports currently host Sky Harbour campuses or provide details about their size or operations. It is unclear from available reporting whether the Chicago Executive campus will be the company's largest facility or how many aircraft the first phase is designed to accommodate.