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FAA to cut daily flights at O'Hare Airport
A decision tonight from the FAA on flight cuts at O'Hare. The agency has been talking about doing this for months but today-- they made it official.
CHICAGO - The Federal Aviation Administration will reduce daily flight operations at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, the agency announced Thursday.
What we know:
The move follows months of discussion and will take effect May 17 through Oct. 24. The FAA will cap the airport at 2,708 flights per day — more than 300 fewer than originally scheduled.
The agency said the reduction is intended to improve safety and reduce delays and cancellations.
"By establishing this scheduling limit, this Order will achieve significant public benefits in Summer 2026 by improving airspace and airfield safety and efficiency, reducing surface movement in the constrained taxiway environment, mitigating the substantial inconvenience to the traveling public caused by excessive flight delays at the airport, and will meet a serious transportation need by preventing widespread operational disruption at ORD and throughout the National Airspace System (NAS) during Summer 2026," the order reads.
The FAA said the administrator may adjust the limit if capacity allows for additional flights without significantly increasing delays.
What they're saying:
A spokesperson with United Airlines issued this statement on the order:
"We appreciate Secretary Duffy, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford and the team for leading the process to find a solution that makes sense for everyone who cares about O’Hare’s success. We are reviewing the FAA order and will share additional information, including any next steps, as soon as our review is complete."
American Airlines issued this statement, in part, on the FAA's decision:
"Overall, we welcome this outcome for the benefit it will have on our customers, our team and the entire ORD community who stood to endure a very rough summer. The outcome also ensures the competitive environment at ORD will reflect our historic market share, supporting our network plan and the dual‑hub structure that benefits travelers, businesses and the broader Chicago economy. Remember, we do not need to be the biggest carrier at ORD to be successful — we simply want to be the best. We enter the summer very well positioned to compete, and you are the team that will make that happen."
What's next:
To learn more about the FAA's decision on flight operations at O'Hare, visit this link.
The Source: The information in this article was provided by the FAA.