O’Hare Flight Cap Implemented to Reduce Summer Delays at Busiest U.S. Airport

The Federal Aviation Administration has imposed a daily flight cap at Chicago O’Hare International Airport for the summer travel season, limiting operations to 2,708 flights per day in an effort to reduce widespread delays caused by unrealistic airline schedules and ongoing construction.

The order, issued by the FAA on Thursday, will take effect on May 17 and remain in place through October 24, targeting what officials describe as an unsustainable increase in planned flights. O’Hare had initially scheduled more than 3,080 flights on its busiest days this summer — a nearly 15 percent increase from last summer — which the agency said would exceed the airport’s capacity throughout the season.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the cap is intended to provide travelers with greater certainty during the peak summer months. “If you book a ticket, we want you and your family to have the certainty that you’ll fly without endless delays and cancellations,” Duffy said in a statement, adding that “unrealistic schedules were set [at O’Hare] to dramatically exceed what they could handle.”

The FAA cited ongoing airfield construction, including rehabilitation work on Taxiways A and B and various taxiway closures for concrete work west of the main terminal, as key factors limiting the airport’s ability to handle increased traffic. The agency noted that both American Airlines and United Airlines have announced expansion plans at O’Hare that could exacerbate delays if not adjusted.

Under the new limit, O’Hare will need to cut as many as 372 flights per day on peak travel days. On lighter traffic days, fewer flights will be removed from the schedule. American Airlines told TIME it expects to cut no more than 40 flights per day, while estimating that United Airlines will need to reduce its operations by about 200 flights daily during peak times. United did not provide its own estimate but said it is reviewing the order and will share additional information soon.

Both airlines expressed appreciation for the federal agencies’ efforts to find a workable solution. United said it was “grateful to the Department of Transportation and the FAA for leading the process to find a solution that makes sense for everyone who cares about O’Hare’s success.” American stated that the FAA’s action “will improve reliability and reduce delays for customers traveling from, to and through O’Hare this summer.”

The FAA said last summer, only 56 percent of departing flights and 58 percent of arriving flights at O’Hare experienced no delays, largely due to construction-related disruptions. The agency does not anticipate needing to extend the flight cap beyond October, citing expected progress on airfield projects through the summer.

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford emphasized that the measure is rooted in safety and operational realism. “Our number one priority is the safety of the flying public, and that means ensuring airline schedules reflect what the system can safely handle,” Bedford said. “We appreciate the airlines working together with us to reach a responsible level of operations that strengthens safety and delivers a more reliable travel experience for the American public.”