In other exciting aviation news, the Tribune’s Jon Hilkevitch got his hands on a study soon to be released by Ricondo & Associates which says that Daley’s expanded O’Hare would result in more delays, especially in bad weather.

Why? Because even if you build out the airport, once the number of flights increases to the projected 1.6 million you’re just going to wind up with more delays. Further, one whole new runway would be completely useless in any kind of bad weather, according to the report.

This is exactly what the much-maligned Sen. Peter Fitzgerald has been saying all along about the Daley-Ryan expansion plan, but nobody paid any attention. By sheer luck were we spared this travesty, thanks to Fitzgerald’s opposition in the Senate and the aviation industry’s self-destruction since Sept. 11.