FAA Caps O'Hare Peak Flights at 2,708 Daily

The Federal Aviation Administration announced on Thursday that it will cap daily flight operations at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport at 2,708 arrivals and departures during peak summer days, a reduction of more than 300 flights from the originally scheduled levels, to address persistent delays and safety concerns amid ongoing construction.

The limits, effective from May 17 through October 24, target the busiest periods when airlines had planned over 3,080 operations daily, marking a nearly 15 percent increase from the previous summer. Federal officials attributed the overscheduling to expansion efforts by O'Hare's two dominant carriers, United Airlines and American Airlines, which have been competing for greater market share at the nation's busiest airport. Taxiway closures for construction projects have compounded the strain on air traffic controllers and airfield capacity, exacerbating congestion.

O'Hare already recorded some of the worst delay rates among major U.S. airports last year, with only about 56 percent of departures and 58 percent of arrivals operating on time. Officials noted that without intervention, the planned growth for summer 2026 would likely lead to...