CHICAGO (WBBM Newsradio) – Federal aviation officials are proposing steeper-than-expected limits on flights at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport this summer, aiming to reduce congestion and avoid the widespread delays that plagued travelers last year.
The Federal Aviation Administration said it wants to cap daily takeoffs and landings at about 2,608 – significantly below the roughly 3,080 flights airlines had scheduled for the 2026 summer season. The proposed limit is also lower than an earlier target of about 2,800 daily flights floated in February.
The agency said O’Hare, one of the nation’s busiest airports, is already operating near capacity, handling around 2,800 daily flights. Adding hundreds more, officials warned, would likely lead to “inevitable delay and operational disruption,” particularly during peak travel periods and as construction projects continue at the airport.
More than half of flights at O’Hare were delayed at times last summer, according to the FAA, prompting calls for a more controlled schedule heading into this year’s busy travel season.
Under the proposal, flights would also be managed in half-hour increments throughout the day to ease congestion during peak windows. The FAA is expected to work directly with airlines to determine where schedule reductions will occur.
The move could force United Airlines and American Airlines – O’Hare’s two largest carriers – to scale back planned growth as they compete for market share at the airport.
Airlines have already begun selling tickets based on higher flight volumes but say there will be time to adjust schedules and rebook passengers if necessary.
City officials have pushed back on the idea of deeper cuts, arguing that O’Hare has demonstrated it can handle current traffic levels and warning that reducing flights too much could disrupt the national airspace system and cargo movement.
The FAA is scheduled to meet with airlines this week and is expected to issue a final decision on flight limits in the coming weeks.