The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced plans to reduce the number of flights at Chicago O'Hare International Airport for the upcoming summer season. The agency cited concerns that major airlines have significantly overscheduled flights, which could overwhelm the airport's infrastructure and lead to widespread disruptions.
The intervention comes after airlines published schedules that would make this summer the busiest in the airport's history, prompting the FAA to propose a cap on daily operations to maintain safety and efficiency.
Key Takeaways
- The FAA is proposing a limit of 2,800 daily flights at Chicago O'Hare for the summer season (March 29 - October 25).
- Airlines had scheduled over 3,080 daily flights for peak days, a significant increase from 2,680 last summer.
- The surge is primarily driven by United Airlines adding approximately 200 daily flights and American Airlines adding 100.
- The FAA will meet with airlines on March 3 to discuss the mandatory schedule reductions.
FAA Intervenes to Prevent Summer Travel Chaos
Federal regulators are stepping in to manage flight schedules at Chicago O'Hare, one of the nation's busiest airports. The FAA has scheduled a meeting with major air carriers on March 3 to implement flight reductions for the summer travel period, which runs from March 29 through October 25.
The agency stated that the current schedules submitted by airlines are not sustainable. On peak days, airlines planned for more than 3,080 daily operationsāa combination of takeoffs and landings. This figure represents a substantial jump from the 2,680 daily operations handled last summer.
According to the FAA, the proposed flight volume would place excessive strain on the airport's runways, terminal facilities, and air traffic control systems. To prevent what it calls "large-scale operational disruption," the agency is proposing a cap of 2,800 total daily operations throughout the season.
Capacity vs. Demand
The FAA has determined that O'Hare can currently handle about 100 hourly departures and arrivals, which translates to a manageable capacity of approximately 2,800 total daily operations. The airlines' proposed schedules exceeded this demonstrated capacity by nearly 300 flights on peak days.
Airlines Ramp Up Chicago Schedules
The FAA's decision follows aggressive expansion plans announced by O'Hare's two largest carriers, United Airlines and American Airlines. Both have significantly increased their flight offerings in and out of the Chicago hub.
United's Major Expansion
United Airlines planned to add about 200 flights per day. The carrier's schedule shows 780 daily flights from O'Hare this month, a sharp increase from the 541 daily flights it averaged last year. This represents a 20% increase in its mainline departures from O'Hare compared to the summer of 2025.
American Airlines Boosts Departures
American Airlines also announced a major increase, adding 100 additional daily departures from O'Hare. This move boosts its spring departure count by 30% compared to 2025. The airline's daily departure figures are set to rise from 484 last summer to 526 this summer, servicing more than 75 destinations.
Precedent Set at Newark
This is not the first time the FAA has intervened to manage airport congestion. Last summer, the agency convened a similar schedule reduction meeting for Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to address chronic delays and operational challenges. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford referenced the Newark situation in a recent meeting with airlines, highlighting the agency's concern about O'Hare's ability to function with the proposed flight increases.
Airlines Signal Cooperation
Despite the forced reductions, both United and American Airlines have responded positively to the FAA's planned intervention. Both carriers acknowledged the need to ensure the airport can operate smoothly during the busy travel season.
In a statement, American Airlines praised the FAA and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy "for taking proactive action to ensure the operational integrity of the airfield and airspace in Chicago." The airline added that the FAA "now has the opportunity to achieve an improved customer experience for passengers traveling from, to, and through Chicago this summer."
United Airlines echoed this sentiment, expressing its commitment to working with regulators.
"We share their commitment to running a safe and reliable operation out of O'Hare and look forward to a collaborative discussion," the airline stated.
The upcoming meeting will determine the specifics of the flight reductions. Travelers with summer plans to fly through Chicago should monitor their bookings for potential schedule changes as airlines adjust their operations to comply with the new federal limits.
