Virgin America, unable to lease gates from other carriers at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, will soon decide whether to scrap plans to enter the Chicago market.

"I'm guessing we're a couple of weeks away from making a tough decision," David Cush, president and chief executive of San Francisco-based Virgin told the Tribune.

If Virgin America does bail on Chicago, it will mark the latest setback in a string of problems besetting the carrier that aimed to be the first lower-cost airline to directly challenge United and American Airlines on flights to the West Coast's largest business centers, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

City officials said they are trying to broker a deal on behalf of Virgin American.

"We continue to hold discussions with the airline about gate options," said Karen Pride, spokeswoman for the City of Chicago's Aviation Department.

Added Cush: "There is a solution to this problem. I just don't know how we get there."