The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will keep flight limits in place at Chicago O’Hare International Airport for another year, extending the current 10 percent reduction in daily flights through the end of October 2027.
The restrictions, first introduced this spring, cap the airport at 2,708 daily arrivals and departures. The move is intended to reduce delays and ease congestion at one of the nation’s busiest airports, where United Airlines and American Airlines have been competing to expand service.
Before the limits were imposed, airlines had planned to operate about 3,080 flights a day this summer—roughly 15 percent more than last year. The FAA said the reduced schedule is necessary to match better the airport’s available capacity, particularly as runway construction continues.
O’Hare has experienced persistent delays despite the flight reductions, with weather and ongoing construction continuing to disrupt operations. Last summer, only about 56 percent of departing flights and 58 percent of arriving flights were on time.
The FAA has also argued that aggressive scheduling by the airport’s two largest carriers contributed to congestion. Earlier this year, the agency rejected requests to base capacity limits on newer airline schedules, saying that could encourage carriers to submit overly ambitious flight plans during negotiations.
Both United and American supported the extension. American said the decision should improve reliability, reduce delays and provide travelers with a more predictable experience. United echoed that sentiment, adding that it expects to grow its Chicago operation as construction projects are completed and airport capacity expands.
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