FASTER, PLEASE: Airlines Know You Hate the Airport, and Are Trying to Do Something About It.

American Airlines Group Inc. signed on last month to a $8.5 billion renovation at O’Hare International Airport after bristling for months at what it argued was preferential treatment for the Chicago gateway’s largest tenant, United Continental Holdings Inc.

American, United and other carriers at O’Hare agreed to new airport leases that will underpin funding plans for an expansion that is being mirrored at other big hubs across the country. From Los Angeles to New York to Atlanta and dozens of other airports, airlines and local officials are planning $100 billion in renovations over the next few years, according to the Airports Council International-North America trade group.

They hope to address what passenger surveys suggest is one of the most frustrating parts of air travel: navigating crowded, aging U.S. airports.

This could shape up to be a real-world example of why privatizing our airports would be a good idea.