Virgin America may abandon O'Hare plans

Virgin American can't get a break at Chicago O'Hare International airport.

The startup planned to inaugurate service from the Windy City to Los Angeles and San Francisco late this year, but that has been postponed until next year because the carrier has been unable to sublease one or two gates for its eighth destination.

Now the Chicago Tribune is reporting the airline may go elsewhere because gates are leased through 2018.

All hope may not be lost.

While Chicago's Aviation Department can't force a tenant to sublease gates, the department continues to work with the airlines to see if an arrangement can be worked out, department spokeswoman Karen Pride tells me.

O'Hare has 178 gates, of which United Airlines is the primary leaseholder on 65 and American Airlines is the primary leaseholder on 61 gates.