Privatization of major US airport attracts foreign interest

Foreign investors are lining up to bid to operate Chicago's Midway International Airport, the first major US airport to be privatized under a federal initiative launched more than a decade ago.
City officials say six consortiums, which include firms from France, Australia, Germany, Canada and Spain, are vying to run Chicago's secondary airport.
While many European airports were privatized years ago, all commercial airports in the United States are currently operated and owned by local or state governments.
Midway was the first major hub airport to apply for privatization approval since the US congress established a pilot program in 1996 to explore the use of private operators at commercial airports.
Yet it remains unclear whether the effort will generate a backlash if a foreign firm is chosen, in light of security concerns raised after a failed effort by a Dubai group to take over major US ports.
"This will surely generate debate since there may be perceptions about foreign ownership of sensitive or critical transportation properties like we saw with the Dubai port deal," said Joe Schweiterman, a transportation professor at DePaul University in Chicago.