FAA moves to block overloading at O’Hare this summer

The Federal Aviation Administration is acting to reduce flights at O’Hare International Airport this summer, warning that a planned surge in operations will strain the system.

The move comes as rivals United and American Airlines pile flights and destinations on their schedules.

In summer 2025, O’Hare operations topped out at 2,680 flights a day. In comparison, the summer 2026 schedule exceeds 3,080 operations on peak days, officials said in a document scheduled to be published in the Federal Register next week.

“This proposed increase is significant and would stress the runway, terminal, and air traffic control systems at the airport,” the FAA stated.

“In addition to planned schedule increases by carriers, O’Hare continues to undergo long term construction projects that have and will impact operations to varying degrees throughout” summer 2026.

Currently, O’Hare accommodates about 2,800 daily operations. The FAA is proposing that the airport adhere to those levels this summer.

The intent is to “prevent large-scale operational disruption while also allowing air carriers to operate within the airport’s demonstrated manageable capacity,” the FAA stated.

The agency has scheduled a meeting for Tuesday with carriers and the Chicago Department of Aviation to discuss the situation, and will issue a final order after the session.

CDA leaders said Friday the city looked forward to “continued collaboration with the U.S. Department of Transportation and airlines “that ensures safe and efficient operations,” while taking gate availability, air traffic control staffing and construction into consideration.

But officials noted its eight runways enable “O’Hare to support more flight operations than any other airport in the nation. Under Mayor (Brandon) Johnson’s leadership, O’Hare is well-positioned to accommodate traffic growth beyond 2025 levels,” the CDA said.

After acquiring four additional gates from the CDA following a reallocation in 2025, United expanded operations and planned to offer 750 flights a day at O’Hare this summer compared to 541 daily on average in 2025.

United issued a statement Friday, saying it appreciated Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s leadership. “We share their commitment to running a safe and reliable operation out of (O’Hare) and look forward to a collaborative discussion,” officials said.

Meanwhile, American acquired two more gates from Spirit Airlines last year and is hoping to gain more after requesting the city review 2025 data.

An American spokesperson said the airline “commends Secretary Duffy, Administrator Bedford and the FAA for taking proactive action to ensure the operational integrity of the airfield and airspace in Chicago. The FAA now has the opportunity to achieve an improved customer experience for passengers traveling from, to, and through Chicago this summer.”